Oscar-winning Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore will be honored during the upcoming Taormina Film Festival with the Golden Globes Prize for Documentary in partnership with Artemis Rising Foundation for his docufilm “Brunello: The Gracious Visionary” about Brunello Cucinelli, the fashion designer known as Italy’s “King of Cashmere.”
Tornatore will receive the award in Taormina’s large open-air ancient Greek amphitheater in the shadow of Sicily’s active Mt. Etna volcano. The storied festival, held in the resort is known to U.S. audiences as the location of “The White Lotus” Season 2, is being revamped by marketing guru and festivals specialist Tiziana Rocca.
Besides his 1990 Oscar-winning “Cinema Paradiso,” Tornatore more recently helmed art world thriller “The Best Offer,” with Donald Sutherland; 2016’s “Correspondence” with Olga Kurylenko and Jeremy Irons; and 2022 hit Ennio Morricone doc “Ennio.”
The 2025 docufilm “Brunello: The Gracious Visionary” chronicles Cucinelli’s rise from being a farmer’s son to becoming the creative director and executive chairman of a global luxury lifestyle brand with a market capitalization of more than $7.8 billion. The film, which interweaves documentary and reenacted components, was shot in Umbria. It depicts key moments in Cucinelli’s career, showcasing his passion for Italian craftsmanship and commitment to a concept he calls “humanistic capitalism,” under which every stitch of clothing his company creates is made in Italy and mostly in the area where he comes from. Cucinelli also makes sure his factory workers are paid fair wages and feel like family. He has completely renovated the Italian village of Solomeo that is home to his headquarters.
The Golden Globes Prize for Documentary, in partnership with Artemis Rising Foundation, “recognizes a documentary filmmaker whose work demonstrates exceptional creative merit and the potential to inspire positive social change,” according to a statement.
“We are delighted and deeply honored that an international award as important and prestigious as the Golden Globes has chosen Taormina for this special occasion,” Rocca said in the statement.
“Hosting the presentation of such a significant award to a master of cinema like Giuseppe Tornatore is a source of great pride for us and confirms our festival’s central role in the international film scene,” she added.
“We are honored to partner with the Taormina Film Festival and Artemis Rising Foundation to recognize Giuseppe Tornatore, a filmmaker whose work has had a profound impact on audiences around the world,” said Golden Globes Helen Hoehne in the statement. “The Gracious Visionary” reflects his continued dedication to storytelling that is both visually compelling and deeply human. We are proud to celebrate his contributions to documentary filmmaking at this year’s festival,” she added.
Commented Regina K. Scully, founder and CEO of Artemis Rising Foundation: “What a thrill it is to lift up the art and craft of Giuseppe Tornatore. His signature ‘Cinema Paradiso’ and pioneering Dolce & Gabbana short films starring Sofia Loren have left a generational imprint, capturing the essence of Italian heritage and beauty for audiences around the world”
The 72nd edition of Taormina will run June 10-14. Jane Campion is presiding over the jury and Helen Mirren will receive a lifetime achievement award, as previously announced. Russell Crowe is expected to attend to launch his latest film “Bear Country.”
The fest’s lineup will be announced in early June.
Courtesy Twenty-Nine Palms Entertainment
