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ITALIAN CINEMA PASSES THE HOLLYWOOD TEST. OVER 5.000 SPECTATORS ATTEND THE FESTIVAL HELD AT MANN'S CHINESE THEATRE Los Angeles, March 10th, 2006 - Italian Cinema passes the test at the inaugural edition of "Los Angeles, Italia - Film, Fashion and Food Fest" with an amazing turnout of over 5.000 spectators throughout the festival, which included 30 screenings at Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood during the week leading up to the Oscars. The festival, promoted by the Capri in the World Institute and the Cim Group Inc., along with the Lazio Region and Rai Trade, presented two World Premieres, "Fire on Ice" with Raoul Bova and "Wedding's Agent" by Christian Visceglia and produced by Eleonora Giorgi, as well as five U.S. Premieres, including "I Love You in Every Language" by Leonardo Pieraccioni, "Melissa P.", "The Bodyguard's Cure", "The Fine Art of Love: Mine Ha-Ha" and "The Heretic". "It was a pleasant surpise, filled with unexpected emotions" declared Raoul Bova about the premiere of his film during the opening night gala, which included Jon Voight, Jacqueline Bisset, Dolph Lundgren, Roseanna Arquette, Gerard Butler, legendary director Norman Jewison and producers Larry Turman, Lawrence Bender, Tom Sternberg, Steven Paul and Barry Navidi. "This is a new guarantee for the promotion of Italian cinema across the Atlantic" claimed actor Franco Nero, who arrived as one of the ambassadors of Italian culture flown in to California for the festival, which presented his first directorial effort, "Forever Blues", for which guests such as Paul Mazursky and Keith Carradine were in attendance. "Everyone was very kind and supportive; this is surely an excellent start to a festival that will become a staple of Los Angeles film culture" adds Lina Wertmuller, honorary mother to the "Los Angeles, Italia" festival. Wertmuller was honored by a retrospective of four of her films, and was welcomed by a standing ovation from over 300 students during a guest appearance at the University of Southern California's School of Cinema-Television. Wertmuller was also honored by Al Pacino at a surprise party organised for him by producer David Codakov. "This was an excellent opportunity for me to rewatch my older films and discuss them with the public" concluded Gabriele Muccino, who appeared both times for a Q&A after two of his films were screened. Muccino is highly anticipated for his forthcoming film starring Will Smith. "We're already working on the 2007 edition set for February 18th - 24th with new films and new Italian celebrities. Italy, with its tradition and artists, is always a guarantee of success, and will always find space here at the Hollywood & Highland Center" proclaimed Shaul Kuba, principal of the Cim Group Inc., the corporation that owns the Kodak Theatre (home of the Oscars) and the legendary Mann's Chinese Theatre. Info: caprinelmondo@tin.it