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JACQUELINE BISSET ANNOUNCES "VIVALDI" AT L.A. ITALIA 2009. THE AMERICAN DIVA HOSTS THE PREMIERE OF "MAGO" BY FRANCO NERO LOS ANGELES, 18/02/09 - Jacqueline Bisset will play the role of the ‘countess’ in the biopic of Antonio Vivaldi, starring Joseph Fiennes and currently in pre-production after a long preparation, to be directed by Boris Damast. The actress made this announcement during the third night of IV° Los Angeles Italia - Film, Fashion and Art Festival, the great event of Italian cinema currently held at the Chinese Theatre of Hollywood. ''It will be a wonderful experience, filled with emotions and intrigues. I have always been fascinated by Italian culture – said Bisset on the Red Carpet – and so I would have never missed the premier of the film with my friend Franco Nero''. The Italian actor, who is extremely popular in the US, has successfully presented a small independent movie, “Mario il mago”, directed by Hungarian director Tomas Almasi, produced and featuring Franco Nero himself. The film about Vivaldi, also starring Nave Campbel and Malcom Mc Donald and set in the 18th century, will be focused on the years when the young Italian composer was a violin teacher at Pio Ospedale. Thanks to Vivaldi’s teaching, the guests of the Ospedale started to have success even outside their country and the composers wrote a lot of music pieces for them. Los Angeles Italia 2009 is produced with the support of the Ministry of the Cultural Heritage (Cinema Department) Eni, Lazio and Campania regions, in association with Cinecittà Holding and Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. The event, taking place on the eve of the Oscar Night, will also feature the return to Hollywood of Massimo Ranieri with the American premiere of “L’ultimo Pulcinella” a feature film directed by Maurizio Scaparro. The festival will also include a special tribute to Gillo Pontecorvo and Ugo Tognazzi (represented by their children, Marco and Maria Sole) and to producer Franco Cristaldi (represented by his wife Zeudi Araya Cristaldi and the director Massimo Spano). The Italian extravaganza will include: 50 movies (between premieres and retrospectives,) 50 films (premieres and retrospectives) 2 photo exhibitions by Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, and an exhibition of the dresses designed by Barocco at the Italia Art Gallery of Hollywood and Highland Center. The testimonial and host of the event will be Maria Grazia Cucinotta whose image - together with the ones of Sorrento Gulf and the Forum in Rome – has been looming in these days on Hollywood from big billboards Among the most highly anticipated films to be screened there are “La casa nelle nuvole” and “Sandrine e la pioggia” both featuring Adriano Giannini, “L’uomo che ama” by Sole Tognazzi, “Mario il mago” starring Franco Nero, “Volo per la libertà: l’aviatore” by Carlo Carlei, “Penso che un sogno così” Marco De Luca, “Cartoline da Roma” by Giulio Base, “Il seme della discordia” directed by Pappi Corsicato, “Pa-Ra-Da” by Marco Pontecorvo. And also the documentaries by Eni directed by Gillo Pontecorvo, the Taviani Brothers, Giuseppe Ferrara and Leonardo Sciascia. An then, three docu-films by journalist Vincenzo Mollica dedicated to Sofia Loren, Federico Fellini and Massimo Ranieri; two special episodes of the Tv broadcast “La storia siamo noi” by Giovanni Minoli dedicated to the massacre of Saint Anne and to Pasquale Rotondi, aka the “Italian Schindler”. And last but not least, following a decision by chairman Bobby Moresco (Oscar winner in 2007 with Crash) a film about euthanasia “La perfezionista” by Cesare Lanza and the comedy “La fidanzata di Papà” directed by Enrico Oldoini and starring Simona Ventura opposite Massimo Boldi.