Oscar-winner Giuseppe Tornatore to present his much-loved ‘Cinema Paradiso’ in Mumbai

A special film festival will screen Italian masterpieces, including Ennio, Malèna, La Dolce Vita and Once Upon a Time in America, at Regal this weekend

3 min readMumbaiUpdated: Sep 25, 2024 02:25 PM IST

'Cinema Paradiso' revolves around a young boy Tito, who is enchanted by movies shown at the town’s only cinema hall 'Paradiso', and his warm friendship with its projectionist, Alfredo. (Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation)

IT has to be a landmark nostalgia-filled cinematic moment when Oscar-winner Giuseppe Tornatore not only presents ‘Cinema Paradiso (1988)’ in Mumbai during a film festival but also gives away the Film Heritage Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award for Cinema Projection.

‘Cinema Paradiso’ – winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and the Cannes Film Festival’s Grand Prix – revolves around a young boy Tito, who is enchanted by movies shown at the town’s only cinema hall ‘Paradiso’, and his warm friendship with its projectionist, Alfredo.

During his maiden India visit, the 68-year-old cinema legend will attend a special Italian film festival titled ‘Cinema Italian Style – Celebrating Tornatore And The Masters Of Italian Cinema’, scheduled to be held from September 27-29, at Regal Cinema. The screenings are open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Festival’s schedule. (Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation)

The three-day festival, which intends to celebrate the legends of Italian cinema and exhibit restored Italian classics, will screen Tornatore-directed classics ‘Malèna’ (2000) and ‘Ennio’ (2021), apart from ‘Cinema Paradiso’. Restored films of Italian masters including Luchino Visconti’s Senso (1954), Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita (1960), Vittorio de Sica’s Marriage Italian Style (1964) and Sergio Leone’s Once Upon A Time in America (1984) will also be screened during the festival.

The three-day festival, which intends to celebrate the legends of Italian cinema and exhibit restored Italian classics, will screen Tornatore-directed classics like ‘Malèna’ (2000). (Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation)

Filmmaker Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, who is the founder of Film Heritage Foundation (FHF), said: “We are privileged that Giuseppe Tornatore whose film ‘Cinema Paradiso’ pays tribute to film projectionists has agreed to present the Lifetime Achievement Award for Cinema Projection at the opening of the festival.”

Speaking about his upcoming Mumbai visit, Tornatore said: “I was delighted that my film ‘Cinema Paradiso’ is known and loved in India. I am honoured that my films will be presented alongside the films of great Italian masters like Vittorio de Sica, Luchino Visconti, Federico Fellini and Sergei Leone,” and added that “It would be my pleasure to present the award to the winning projectionist (Lifetime Achievement Award for Cinema Projection) at the opening of the festival in Mumbai.”

Alaka Sahani

Alaka Sahani is a prominent film critic and journalist based in Mumbai. With a career spanning over two decades, she has established herself as one of India’s most authoritative voices in cinematic journalism, known for an analytical approach and insights that transcend the standard cycle of celebrity journalism. Expertise & Accolades In 2014, Alaka was honoured with the National Film Award for Best Film Critic. Her Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) citation specifically lauded her for "highlighting facets of cinema beyond glamour and gossip" and for her ability to delve into the contemporary relevance of iconic filmmakers. Her commitment to journalistic integrity was further recognised in 2019 with a Special Mention at the Red Ink Awards for her investigative feature, 'In Search of a Star'. Her article titled 'People Like Us', published in The Indian Express on March 27, 2022, was shortlisted for Red Ink Award, 2023. Global Industry Leadership Alaka’s expertise is sought after by major international and domestic film bodies: Golden Globes: In 2025, she joined the international voting body for the 83rd Annual Golden Globes. National Film Awards: She served on the prestigious jury for the 68th National Film Awards, helping select the finest contributions to Indian cinema. Global Perspective: Her work consistently bridges the gap between commercial Bollywood A-listers and emerging independent talents, offering nuanced insights into both Indian regional cinema and international film trends. Focus & Vision Beyond the screen, Alaka is a dedicated observer of Mumbai’s vibrant theatre scene and the historical evolution of the moving image. Through her long-form articles and deep-dive interviews, she continues to challenge "tried-and-tested" templates, providing readers with a deep understanding of the artistic and systemic workings of the Indian and global film industry. ... Read More

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