The Academy of Italian Cinema, in collaboration with Cinecittà, presents a new category at the historic David di Donatello Awards. The “CINECITTÀ DAVID 70 Special Award” will be awarded to the most prestigious personalities in Italian cinema and in the history of the David Awards. The award ceremony is to be broadcast live in prime time on May 7th on Rai1 from the famous Via Tuscolana Studios.

For the 70^th edition of the David di Donatello Awards, the Academy of Italian Cinema in collaboration with Cinecittà will award the CINECITTÀ DAVID 70 Special Award to one of the most prestigious personalities in Italian cinema and in the history of the David Awards.

The award ceremony will be broadcast live on Wednesday, May 7th on Rai 1 from Teatro 5 at Cinecittà, hosted by Elena Sofia Ricci and Mika and present twenty-six David di Donatello and Special David Awards. The evening will also be broadcast live on Rai Radio2 and available on the RaiPlay platform.

The 70^th edition of the David di Donatello Awards is organized by the Fondazione Accademia del Cinema Italiano – Premi David di Donatello and Rai, in collaboration with Cinecittà. Piera Detassis is President and Artistic Director of the Academy, sided by a notable Board of Directors. The David di Donatello Awards take place under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic, with the contribution of the MiC Ministry of Culture – Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual, in agreement with AGIS and ANICA, with the participation of SIAE and Nuovo IMAIE as Founding Supporting Members.

THE 70^th EDITION AWARDS

The Jury of the Academy of Italian Cinema – David di Donatello Awards will assign 21 awards to films released in Italy at movie theaters from January 1^st to December 31^st, 2024, 1 David Award for Best International Cinema, and 1 David Award for Best Documentary.

• 21 David Awards for Italian Cinema. The categories include Best Film, Director, Debut Director, Original Screenplay, Adapted Screenplay, Producer, Leading Actress, Leading Actor, Supporting Actress, Supporting Actor, Director of Photography, Casting Director, Composer, Original Song, Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup, Hairstyling, Editing, Sound, Visual Effects VFX.

Among the films nominated in the various categories, several were shot in the Cinecittà studios or utilized their post-production services and development labs. Among the former is Napoli-New York by Gabriele Salvatores – nominated in four categories: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (Pierfrancesco Favino), Best Visual Effects-VFX, David Giovani Award – while among the latter are Dostoevskij by the D’Innocenzo brothers, for 16mm color negative development; Zamora by Neri Marcorè, for dubbing and mixing integrations; Il treno dei bambini (The Children’s Train), for mixing; I bambini di Gaza (The Children of Gaza) by Loris Lai, for dubbing and mixing integrations.

• 1 David Award for International Cinema will be assigned to the best foreign film distributed in Italy. Among the nominees is Conclave by Edward Berger made in the Cinecittà Studios.
• 1 David Cecilia Mangini Award for Best Documentary Film. This category is dedicated to Cecilia Mangini and presided by eight experts. Among the nominees are two titles from Luce Cinecittà: Il cassetto segreto (The Secret Drawer) by Costanza Quatriglio and Duse – The Greatest by Sonia Bergamasco.

Voted by a national jury of students in their final two years of high school, the David Giovani Award will be awarded to an Italian film with themes relevant to the younger generations.

A special commission appointed by the President will assign the David di Donatello Award for Best Short Film.

The David dello Spettatore (Audience Award) is awarded to an Italian movie released by December 31st, 2024, with the highest box-office results calculated up to February 28th, 2025. This year the award goes to Diamanti (Diamonds) by Ferzan Ozpetek.

Finally, the Special Davids, designated by the Presidency and the Board of Directors, will be awarded to personalities from the world of cinema.