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MASSIMO RANIERI TO BE AWARDED THE PATRONI GRIFFI ’08 AWARD AT CAPRI AND A SPECIAL TRIBUTE IN LOS ANGELES CAPRI, ITALY - 21/11/08 – The neapoletan shoman Massimo Ranieri will receive the special “Capri Patroni Griffi Award 2008” on December 28th 2008, on the occasion of the 13th edition of “Capri, Hollywood”. The popular Neapolitan showman will be bestowed the prestigious award dedicated to the late Italian director, after eminent artists such as Michael Radford, Ben Gazzara and Michele Placido. And then in February, at the “4th Los Angeles, Italia – Film, Fashion and Art Fest” (to be held from February 15th through 21st at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood) Massimo Ranieri will be the “Ambassador” of Naples and of its artistic tradition. Accompanied by the great director Maurizio Scaparro, Ranieri will present the American première of his latest film “L’Ultimo Pulcinella” (also screened at the recent Rome International Film Festival) and will perform live together with a special band made up of musicians from all over the world and directed by the master Mauro Pagani. The initiative will be promoted by the Istituto Capri nel Mondo together with the American financial holding Usa CIM Group (owner both of the Chinese Theatre and of the del Kodak Theater, the venue of the Oscar Night), the Councillorship of Tourism and Cultural Assets of the Region Campania Eni and Casinò di Venezia, with the support of Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in association with the Italian Consulate and the Italian Institute of Culture in Los Angeles. “It will be a great and elegant Neapolitan celebration on the eve of the Oscar Night” declares the honorary chairman of the organization, the Italian-American Bobby Moresco (Oscar-winner for the screenplay of the smash-hit “Crash”). “Los Angeles, Italia 2009 will present the indisputable talent of Massimo Ranieri, an artist who represents the other side of a very difficult region that has been recently brought to the fore by the thought-provoking film by Matteo Garrone, “Gomorra”, the Italian representative at the Academy Awards. “We cross our fingers and we do really wish our best to this film, for its great artistic and moral qualities“ continues Moresco whose grandfathers left Genoa at the beginning of last century looking for a better future in the States. “Naples is first and foremost a land blessed by the God of the Arts and Massimo Ranieri is one of the greatest artistic expressions of this wonderful city,” concludes Moresco who will be landing in Capri at the end of the year; together with the iconic actor-director Dennis Hopper, Moresco will present the European première of the first episode of the new TV series “Crash” (sequel of the film directed by Paul Haggis).