The ANNOTICO Report

Leone D'Oro (Gold Lion), similar to Hollywood's Oscar.

Today in Italy
Special service by AGI
On behalf of the Italian Prime Minister's office

Venice Aug 5, 2005

Stefania Sandrelli is to be awarded the Leone D'Oro for career achievements
this year.

The decision was taken by the Venice Film Festival Board, chaired by Davide
Croff, in keeping with suggestions by Cinema expert Marco Mueller.

"45 years in cinema and just as beautiful as when she started. Stefania
Sandrelli has weathered Italian cinema's ups and downs" says Mueller,
adding "her career took off when she was spotted by [...] Pietro Germi and
Antonio Pietrangeli.

She's matched her times in works such as "Il conformista" by Bernardo
Bertolucci. She was a sexy-intellectual muse and has more recently
contributed to cameos in younger actors' and directors' work, as was the
case with Valia Santella and 'L'Ultimo bacio' by Muccino.

A modern rather than modernist actress, she ranks among the best that
Italian cinema has to offer". During her 45 year career (starting in 1961
with "The Federal") Stefania Sandrelli has worked with top ranking Italian
and international directors, blending traditional and modern female
stereotypes.

Year after year she proves to have been an extremely versatile actress. She
started off as a beauty queen in Viareggio.

The award is to be handed to miss Sandrelli on September 10.