Nastri d’argento: Sorrentino Best Director; Giordana, Ozpetek and Verdone also prized

by Vittoria Scarpa

02/07/2012 - With This Must Be the Place [trailer, film focus], Paolo Sorrentino is the director of the Best Picture 2012, according to the SNGCI (Sindicato Nazionale Giornalisti Cinematografici Italiani / Italian National Union of Film Journalists) who awarded their Nastri d’Argento last Saturday, 30th of June. The film by the Neapolitan director, who will begin shooting his latest film La grande bellezza in Rome in August, also won Best Cinematography (Luca Bigazzi) and Best Set Design (Stefania Cella). The Nastro for Best Screenplay went to the film about Piazza Fontana Story of a Massacre [trailer], written by its director Marco Tullio Giordana in collaboration with Stefano Rulli and Sandro Petraglia, whilst Ferzan Ozpetek and Federica Pontremoli were given the award for Best Subject with Magnifica presenza [trailer].

This year’s edition of the Nastri marks the triumph of the comedy: A Flat for three by Carlo Verdone, which, addition to winning Best Comedy, was awarded Best Actress (Micaela Ramazzotti, also recognized for her role in Il cuore grande delle ragazze [trailer] by Pupi Avati) and Best Supporting Actor (Marco Giallini, also chosen for A.C.A.B. by Stefano Sollima). Best New Director was given to screenwriter Francesco Bruni with Scialla! [trailer] (winner of the Controcampo Italiano at the 2011 Venice Film Festival).

Domenico Procacci won Producer of the Year, and with numerous technical awards (editing, sound) Diaz [trailer, film focus] by Daniele Vicari also established itself as part of the awardees of Nastri d’Argento 2012. A.C.A.B. a film whose protagonists are members of the police squad, was awarded Best Actor for Pierfrancesco Favino also chosen for his performance in Romanzo di una strage. Giordana’s film also wins Best Supporting Actress for Michela Cescon.