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AL PACINO HONORS LEGENDARY LINA WERTMULLER WITH SURPRISE APPEARANCE AT PARTY ON EVE OF OSCAR WEEK “LOS ANGELES, ITALY” FESTIVAL Los Angeles, February 26, 2006 - "I am glad to meet again one of my favourite directors,’ preeminent American actor Al Pacino told Lina Wertmuller in a surprise appearance at an evening honoring the legendary Italian director on the eve of the opening of "Los Angeles, Italy – Film, Fashion and Food Fest". Producer David Codikow threw the party for Wertmuller in connection with the festival of Italian cinema, fashion and food that will run at the Hollywood & Highland Center during Oscar Week. It is promoted by the CIM Group and Capri in the World Institute, in collaboration with the Lazio Region of Italy and RAI Trade. Guests at the exclusive evening included actors John Cusak, Claire Forlani, Gerry Butler, Kyle MacLachlan and Gisella Marengo, and top models Heidi Klum and Cinthia Kravitz. Pacino and Wertmuller talked about their love for the theatre and the discipline needed for successful dedication to cinema. "Al Pacino is a great actor, and like all the great ones, is a humble person who constantly tries new emotions in the classics of the theatre" said the Roman director, herself a recipient of great esteem in California from the international film community. "To see the enthusiasm, with which Al Pacino has celebrated a leader of the Italian cinema like Lina Wertmuller is a lesson of style for many in Italy who do not renew their own consideration for our classic talents, and above all are not supportive of the new generations," said Pascal Vicedomini, producer of the important Oscar week event introducing the new Italian cinema to Hollywood. The festival includes 30 new Italian films being screened free of charge at the Chinese Theatre, an exhibition of costumes by Oscar winner Gabriella Pescucci of Rome’s Sartoria Tirelli and gowns created for leading ladies by Valentino. Leading Italian artists on hand for the festival, in addition to Pescucci, are composer Dario Marianelli and Cristina Comencini, director of The Beast in the Heart. More information is available online at www.losangelesitalia.com.