AFI FEST 2014 presented by Audi ANNOUNCES SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO SOPHIA LOREN

 

FESTIVAL ARTWORK HONORS LOREN WITH ICONIC IMAGE

LOS ANGELES, CA, August 27, 2014 – AFI FEST 2014 presented by Audi, a program of the American Film Institute, today announced it will honor Sophia Loren with a special Tribute on Wednesday, November 12, 2014. AFI FEST, the 8-day film festival, will take place November 6 through 13 in Hollywood. In her honor, the festival dedicates its 2014 branding to Loren by featuring an enchanting image taken in the summer of August 1965.

The evening, open to the public, will celebrate Loren’s illustrious career and coincides with the 50th anniversary of her Academy Award^®-nominated role in [MATRIMONIO ALL'ITALIANA] (DIR Vittorio De Sica, 1964). The film, which will be shown as part of the Tribute, was restored by Cineteca di Bologna, the Technicolor Foundation for Cinema Heritage and Memory Cinéma, in collaboration with Surf Film. The Tribute will also include a conversation with Loren about her career, and THE HUMAN VOICE [LA VOCE UMANA] (DIR Edoardo Ponti, 2014), a short film directed by her son in which she stars, will be shown as part of the evening.

Loren, Italy’s most celebrated actress, is a true international icon whose work has been honored around the world. She was the first artist to win a Best Actress Oscar^® for a foreign-language performance, for TWO WOMEN [] (DIR Vittorio De Sica, 1960), and she received an honorary Academy Award^® in 1991. Other top honors include a Best Actress Award at the in 1961, an honorary César in 1991, a Career Golden Lion from the Venice Film Festival in 1998, an Honorary Golden Berlin Bear from the Berlin Film Festival in 1994 and a David di Donatello Award for her career in 1999. She holds the record for having earned six David di Donatello Awards for acting, including one for her work in THE HUMAN VOICE [LA VOCE UMANA]. Loren previously was honored by AFI as one of America’s Greatest Screen Legends in its AFI’s 100 Years…100 Stars list.

“In a world where the daily obsession seems to be, ‘What’s next?’ Sophia Loren is a rare and welcome reminder that true talent is timeless,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President & CEO. “It is AFI’s honor to shine a proper light on all the gifts she’s given the world across the years.”

“Sophia Loren is a quintessential screen legend, and it is a privilege to honor her with a Tribute that showcases our appreciation of her six decades of influence and outstanding work,” said Jacqueline Lyanga, Festival Director. “Her beauty and style make her a timeless icon of glamour, and the exuberance, sensuality and truth that she brings to the screen in her performances as a leading lady of commedia all’italiana and Hollywood films have inspired countless actresses and filmmakers.”

To attend the November 12 tribute with reserved seating, guests must purchase festival passes – specifically the Star Patron Package and Marquee Patron Package. These and other packages and passes — which include access to galas, tributes and other high-demand film events — will go on sale on Tuesday, September 2, 2014. For the sixth consecutive year, AFI FEST will also continue its unprecedented offer of free tickets to screenings. (For ticketing information, please visit AFIFEST.com.)

AFI members at the Two-Star level and above receive a 10% discount on all Patron Packages and Passes. Information about AFI membership is available at AFI.com/membership. The American Film Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational and cultural organization, and Patron Packages are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

About Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren entered a beauty contest at age 14 and began appearing in films as an extra and in supporting roles. In her late teens, she played leading roles in several Italian features and soon after earned leading roles in American films.

Able to play dramatic, comedic and romantic roles, Loren continued to work in the and internationally opposite leading men including Cary Grant in HOUSEBOAT (DIR Melville Shavelson, 1958), Clark Gable in IT STARTED IN NAPLES (DIR Melville Shavelson,1960), Charlton Heston in EL CID (DIR Anthony Mann,1961), Marcello Mastroianni in MARRIAGE ITALIAN STYLE [MATRIMONIO ALL'ITALIANA] (DIR Vittorio De Sica, 1963), Gregory Peck in ARABESQUE (DIR Stanley Donen, 1966), Marlon Brando in A COUNTESS FROM HONG KONG (DIR Charles Chaplin, 1967), Peter O’Toole in MAN OF LA MANCHA (DIR Arthur Hiller, 1972) and Richard Burton in THE VOYAGE (DIR Vittorio De Sica, 1974).

Notable turns in SATURDAY, SUNDAY AND MONDAY (DIR Lina Wertmuller, 1990), PRÊT-À-PORTER (DIR Robert Altman, 1994), NINE (DIR Rob Marshall, 2009) and THE HUMAN VOICE [LA VOCE UMANA] (DIR Edoardo Ponti, 2014) continue to remind audiences of Loren’s enormous talent and timeless beauty.

About the American Film Institute
AFI is America’s promise to preserve the history of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers. AFI programs include the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and AFI Archive, which preserve film heritage for future generations; the AFI Life Achievement Award — the highest honor for a career in film — now in its 42nd year; AFI Awards, honoring the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of the year; AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies television events and movie reference lists, which have introduced and reintroduced classic American movies to millions of film lovers; year-round and special event exhibition through AFI Fest presented by Audi, AFI Docs presented by AT&T and the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center; and educating the next generation of storytellers at the world renowned AFI Conservatory, recognized for the quality of its instructors and speakers and its notable alumni. For more information about AFI, visit AFI.com or connect with AFI at , and .

About AFI FEST presented by Audi
A program of the American Film Institute, AFI FEST presented by Audi is a celebration of global cinema and today’s Hollywood — a showcase for the best festival films of the year and an opportunity for master filmmakers and emerging artists to come together with audiences in the movie capital of the world. AFI FEST is the only festival of its stature that is free to the public. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for both Short Film categories for the annual Academy Awards^®. This year’s edition takes place November 6–13, 2014. Additional information about AFI FEST is available at AFI.com/AFIFEST. Connect with AFI FEST at , and .

About Audi
Audi of America, Inc. and its U.S. dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. AUDI AG is among the most successful luxury automotive brands globally. The Audi Group delivered 1,575,500 vehicles to customers globally in 2013, and broke all-time company sales records for the fourth straight year in the U.S. Through 2018, AUDI AG will invest about $30 billion on new products, facilities and technologies. Visit www.audiusa.com or www.audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicles and business topics.

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