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Marina Cicogna, a film producer and one of the first women to establish herself in the traditionally male cinema environment in Italy, died Saturday in Rome. She was 89.

Cicogna produced several important Italian films, including Metti, una Sera a Cena by Giuseppe Patroni Griffi and Indagine su un Cittadino al di Sopra di Ogni Sospetto (Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion) by Elio Petri, with the latter winning the Oscar for best foreign language film in 1971. The New York Times called her “one of the most powerful women in European cinema.”

Her extraordinary experience and career were recounted in 2021 in the documentary film Marina Cicogna. Life and Everything Else by Andrea Bettinetti and in her autobiography, Ancora Spero, released this year by Marsilio Publishing.

Cicogna died with Benedetta Gardona, her companion of more than 30 years, by her side.

Ahead of receiving the 2023 David Award for Lifetime Achievement this year, Cicogna...

Italian actor and screenwriter Daria Nicolodi, who played the prying journalist Gianna Brezzi in the Dario Argento cult classic “Deep Red”(Profondo Rosso), and was herself a cult figure, has died. She was 70.

The cause of her death, announced by her daughter Asia Argento and Italian news reports, was not disclosed.

Born in Florence in June 1950, Nicolodi made her acting debut in Italian master Francesco Rosi’s “Many Wars Ago” (Uomini Contro). She was working with helmer Elio Petri when in 1974 she met Dario Argento, with whom she had a longstanding romance, becoming his muse both on and off the screen. In 1975, Nicolodi gave birth to their daughter, Asia Argento, now an actor, director, singer and well-known media personality.

After “Deep Red’s” release in 1975, Nicolodi went on to perform in Dario Argento films “Inferno,”(1980), “Tenebre” (1982), “Phenomena” (1984) and “Opera” (1987).

She is also credited with conceiving the original idea and contributing...

Italian director and screenwriter died on Saturday.

The 65th Berlin International Film Festival (Feb 5-15) is to pay homage to Francesco Rosi, one of one of Italy’s most-celebrated and influential filmmakers from the 1950s to the 1990s.

The director and screenwriter, who inspiring the likes of Francis Coppola and Martin Scorsese with his Italian post-war neo-realist style, passed away on Saturday (Jan 10) at the age of 92.

In homage, the Berlinale has added Many Wars Ago (Uomini Contro) to the upcoming programme, Rosi’s 1970 anti-war drama set on the mountainous Austrian-Italian front during the First World War.

Berlinale director Dieter Kosslick said: “The loss of Francesco Rosi is the loss of an outstanding filmmaker. With their explosive power, Rosi’s films are still persuasive today. His works are classics of politically engaged cinema.”

Rosi’s films often examined corruption and criminality and some of his best-known films told the stories of real events and real people in order...

Rome -- The World Premiere of Christopher Honore's "Man at Bath", and the international premieres of "Karamay," a 356-minute political documentary from Chinese director Xu Xin and Aaron Katz's mystery story "Cold Weather" will be among the highlights of the 20-film main competition at the 63rd edition of the Locarno Film Festival, organizers said Wednesday.

Wednesday's announcement also revealed the lineup for the festival's famous Piazza Grande venue, which will include the European premiere of Jay and Mark Duplass' comedy "Cyrus" -- John C. Reilly, the film's star, will be on hand to receive a special tribute -- Gareth Edwards' science fiction drama "Monsters," and "Gadkii Utenok" (The Ugly Duckling) from first-time Russian director Garri Bardine.

The picturesque Piazza Grande, which seats more than 8,000, is the largest outdoor film venue in Europe.

Among previously announced films is "La Zombie" from the provocative Bruce Labruce, which will screen in competition,...