Seven days, more than 50 films – including 14 world premieres, 12 European premieres, and over 10 Italian premieres plus documentaries and shorts, five superstars and an all-female jury. Considering that the new organizers of the 64^th Taormina Film Festival (TFF) had less than three weeks to put it together, the result was outstanding.

The festival honored films directed by women along with strong social themes from immigration to violence against women, to refugees. Said Taormina artistic directors Silvia Bizio (who is also an HFPA member) and Gianvito Casadonte: “This is another reason why we chose a jury made up of only women, producers, and actresses.”

Men were not left out of the program, though. Terry Gilliam flew in from London, as did Rupert Everett. Matthew Modine, currently shooting in Rome, did not have far to go. And Golden Globe-nominee Daniel Brühl came from Berlin. He even landed right on the beach, although his starting point that day was not Germany but Taormina’s highest mountaintop: he descended with acrobatics while hang gliding! Two-time Golden Globe-winner Richard Dreyfuss was the last to arrive, just in time for a panel discussion and master class.

None of the gentlemen drew as much adoration as Italy’s very own Maria Grazia Cucinotta, who could teach Hollywood stars a thing or two about gracefully dealing with fans. With endless patience and always all smiles she posed for photos and selfies and exchanged kind words with whoever stopped her. La Cucinotta, who was born in neighboring Messina and had her breakthrough with Foreign Film Oscar-winner Il Postino (she was also seen as a Bond Girl, the object of Pierce Brosnan’s affection in The World Is Not Enough), was part of the jury with producer Martha De Laurentiis, widow of the legendary Dino, presiding.  The other members were producers Eleonora Granata, Adriana Chiesa di Palma and Donatella Palermo.

It happened in Taormina: Rupert Everett and his awards; HFPA member and festival director Silvio Bizio (center) with guests; the local ambiance.

elisabeth sereda/hfpa

Many of the submissions were directed or produced by women. World premieres included Be Kind by Nino Monteleone; L’Eroe by Cristiano Anania with Salvatore Esposito; Restiamo Amici by Antonello Grimaldi; and Seguimi by Claudio Sestieri. Other highlights were It Will be Chaos by Lorena Luciana and Filippo Piscopo, Tatterdemalion by Ramaa Mosley, and Leave No Trace by Debra Granik.

The closing night at the breathtaking Gran Teatro Greco, the Greek Amphitheater, began with a cocktail reception on the terrace of the Hotel Timeo below. The Aetna emitted gentle smoke clouds (it is an active volcano after all) while the guests cooled their hot heels with Prosecco. As soon as it was dark, the ceremony began on a stage that dwarfs all Oscar stages and that is never in need of elaborate design: the backdrop is provided by ancient ruins against the Sicilian night sky.

The Golden Tauro and Taormina Arte Awards were handed out, and every utterance of foreign talent,  was simultaneously translated a typical Italian thing. The moderator caused a moment of chuckling in the audience when he inadvertently referred to “that film with the whale you made” while talking to Richard Dreyfuss. He meant Jaws! Instead of biting the man’s head off, Dreyfuss punished him by reciting a very long Dylan Thomas poem that the moderator – you guessed it – had to translate.

Scenes from a festival: Matthew Modine and Richard Dreyfuss; Terry Gilliam;a party with a view; the jury: Donatella Palermo, Eleonora Granata, Adriana Chiesa di Palma, Maria Grazia Cucinotta and Martha de Laurentii.

elisabeth sereda/hfpa, antonio parrinello

A most touching moment came when dr. Pietro Bartolo, the doctor who has been taking care of refugees in the port of Lampedusa for 23 years was presented with the Angelo d’Arrigo Award.

Sabrina Paravicini received a special mention alongside her co-director, her 12-year-old son Nino Monteleone, for Be Kind, the documentary based on Nino’s life as a child with Asperger Syndrome. It was nearly midnight, and Nino was tired. Maria Grazia Cucinotta put his arm around the boy and hugged him. The Tauro d’Oro Italian Excellence Award, for acting, directing and screenwriting went to Italian superstar Michele Placido. Rupert Everett won Best Director and Actor for The Happy Prince, Best Screenplay went to Debra Granik for Leave No Trace and Matthew Modine picked up a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The 65^th edition of the TFF will return in all its splendor in June 2019 and films will once again be shown in the 2300-year-old amphitheater.