SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL TO PRESENT SOPHIA LOREN WITH LEGEND AWARD IN A KICKOFF TO 2016 EVE
In Partnership with The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Sarasota, FL (March 10, 2016) – The Sarasota Film Festival today announced they will present Oscar winning actress Sophia Loren with the 2016 Legend Award, as part of the 2015/ 2016 Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Season. “An Evening with Sophia Loren,” will take place Thursday, March 31st at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, Florida.
Each year the Sarasota Film Festival recognizes an iconic performer, past recipients have included Kevin Bacon, Charlize Theron, Robert Altman, Felicity Huffman, Kevin Kline, Sidney Pollack, Stanley Tucci, Rachel Weisz, Jane Seymour, and many others. The Sarasota Film Festival will present Sophia Loren with the prestigious SFF Legend Award, followed by an intimate and rare on stage conversation between Sophia Loren and Entertainment Tonight Correspondent Bill Harris. The event will mark the kickoff of the 2016 Sarasota Film Festival, which celebrates opening night on April 1st and continues through April 10th.
Sophia Loren remains one of the most celebrated stars of our time, having received a Best Actress Academy Award in 1962 for her performance in LA CIOCIARA and an Honorary Academy Award in 1991 for her outstanding career. Some of her ground-breaking films include, IT STARTED IN NAPLES, MATRIMONIO ALL’ITALIANA and PRET-A-PORTER.
“What an honor it is for the Sarasota Film Festival to bestow our Legend Award to the incredible, world -renowned talent, Sophia Loren,” said Mark Famiglio, President of the Sarasota Film Festival. “Sophia’s legacy and work is a true representation of the arts and culture that we strive to bring to this community year after year. As we enter our 18th festival, there is no better way to celebrate than to recognize the iconic Ms. Loren.”
“The relationship between the Van Wezel and the Sarasota Film Festival is a strong, vibrant one,” said Mary Bensel, Executive Director, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. “We are delighted that the SFF will be honoring one of the film world’s greatest living legends, Ms. Sophia Loren. In the past we have collaborated on bringing some of the screen world’s biggest legends to the Hall.”
More details including the full line-up for the Sarasota Film Festival will be announced in the coming weeks. For more detailed information or for tickets please visit: http://www.sarasotafilmfestival.com
ABOUT THE SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL
Held annually in Sarasota, FL, The Sarasota Film Festival emphasizes the best in cinema alongside exciting programs and events, with more than 250 films screened each year including features, documentaries, shorts, and kid-friendly picks. Entering our 18th year, we’re proud to bring the best new and veteran independent filmmakers to our Festival with local and kid-friendly programs that showcase our idyllic Gulf Coast community. This year the festival will take place April 1st-10th, 2016.
ABOUT THE VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ARTS HALL
Set along Sarasota’s beautiful bayfront, the landmark Taliesin Associates-designed Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has been entertaining audiences with a variety of music, dance, theater and comedy for more than 42 years. Built in 1968 with funds from a city bond referendum and a bequest from philanthropists Lewis and Eugenia Van Wezel, the Van Wezel opened its doors in 1970 with a production of Fiddler on the Roof. Since then, the Hall has welcomed a broad range of performers and shows, including world-class symphonies, both classical and modern dance companies, jazz artists, pop legends, Comedy and Broadway.The Van Wezel’s educational and outreach programs have also touched the community, reaching out to everyone from toddlers to senior citizens. The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and the Sarasota County School Board are members of the prestigious Performing Arts Centers and Schools: Partners in Education Program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This partnership provides professional development workshops for teachers.The Van Wezel was recently named the ‘#1 Tourist Attraction – 2015’ by Visit Sarasota County and a Venues Today “Top Spot – 2015”.
