Articles by: L. a. S.

  • Facts & Stories

    New York: An Example for Rome


    “These two cities are unique for different reasons, Rome for its history, and New York from an economic and social point of view.” The mayor of the Eternal City, Gianni Alemanno, could not contain his enthusiasm during his trip to the Big Apple, where his meetings, appointments, and events were often very different from each other.

    Throughout his tour de force he tried to feel the pulse of the great metropolis. We might even say that he went right through to its veins. In fact, and this will certainly make news in Italy where VIPs rarely forgo drivers and cars, he took the subway to meet his colleague Michael Bloomberg at City Hall.  

     

    He described his impressions to journalists in this way: “Very efficient, orderly, both the subway stations and cars are clean. I did not see any graffiti; it means that the ‘anti-writer’ initiative is working. And this is how they combat blight. Either I was just lucky or there is truly a high standard.”

    The issues that interested him the most and which he discussed at length with Mayor Bloomerg were security, cultural exchange between Rome and New York, as well as exploring the possibility of a partnership in tourism. They also considered the role of educators and the opportunity for student exchanges between schools and universities in both cities.


    Find more photos like this on i-Italy

    Photos by Riccardo Chioni


     
    In East Harlem Gianni Alemanno met with elementary school students that tend the “Mad Fun Farm,” the first urban garden created in New York, located on 98th Street and Third Avenue. Among the carrots, peas, squash, and peppers, the mayor of Rome was given a tour by the children themselves. Alemanno, who is also the former Minister of Agriculture, was particularly interested in the young students’ project.

    New York City Housing Authority Commissioner Margarita López and President of Citizens Committee for New York City Peter Kostmayer explained the idea of creating the first urban garden that covers an area of 10,000 square feet.
     

    Security, respect for the city, and the education of young citizens were recurring themes throughout Alemanno’s visit. The connection between these topics was made clear in his discussion with Mayor Bloomberg about security and the young farmers’ experiences in Harlem.
     

    The police force of New York works together with citizens who coordinate local volunteer projects. This type of “volunteer citizen” is useful not only for safety measures but for social initiatives as well. The participation of ordinary citizens at an early age is of vital importance in order to improve the image of their own city and to combat urban decay for successive generations.
    It is important, according to Alemanno, to create a kind of positive influence that can inspire young people. “We must invest in this type of citizenship, which is already present in the U.S. and that fosters a strong spirit of community…”
    Alemanno also said that he is ready to implement “volunteer days” in Rome and that he is looking for high-profile participants. “Public figures, politicians, as well as actors and soccer players need to spread this message. This is not propaganda with a political purpose, but a spontaneous movement of citizens. And I will be the first to take part.”

    During his visit Alemanno also spoke with Rudy Giuliani as a consultant about safety in the city of Rome. For Gianni Alemanno, “it is a genuine concern. We believe that Giuliani can help.”
    Alemanno met with the Italian-American former mayor at his consultancy firm in Times Square. “He explained that he started with an order against homeless camps because people thought they had a right to sleep in the streets. He resorted to drastic measures, zero tolerance. This was not an end in itself but a prerequisite to ensure the welfare of the community.” The role of the police was, according to Alemanno, fundamental to Giuliani’s mission as his administration integrated auxiliary volunteers into the police force.  

     
    The former mayor New York re-introduced the role of “auxiliary police officers” who patrol the streets as volunteers. It could be a model for the “local area volunteers,” a term that Alemanno said he prefers to “making the rounds” or “walking the beat.” “I don’t like it, just as the overwhelming majority of Romans don’t like it because it evokes images of a ‘do-it-yourself’ justice system.”  
    After he was introduced by Consul General Francesco Maria Talò to the consular community, Alemanno emphasized the importance of his trip which has allowed him to meet Italians all over the world. He also mentioned the need to modify some of the laws relating to voting abroad, votes that undoubtedly represent a major achievement. For Alemanno, it is also important to address the closing of consular offices where Italians and Italian American can re-acquire citizenship. A very large crowd from the consular community was present, including representatives from the CGIE as well as prominent figures in science, culture, and business, and the council member elected by Italians abroad, Berardo Amato. 
    Speaking of Rome, he said: “We want Italians all over the world to be proud. We want Rome’s future to be secure. Rome has the potential to become a great international city: all that is necessary is a means to unite the past along with the future. And in New York we want to focus on the community to ensure that Italy is more well-known and better understood.” 

     
    Alemanno promised to return again soon and enhance the relationship between New York and Rome through the implementation of specific projects and initiatives.


  • Dining in & out: Articles & Reviews

    At the European Parliament for Calabria

    On his Facebook page, he writes with satisfaction:  “The only Calabrian in Europe. With 110,451 votes I was elected to European Parliament. Heartfelt thanks to all.”

    Mario Pirillo who hails from Amantea, Calabria entered politics in his youth. He has dedicated his life to politics and supporting his region.

    We approached him at a dinner hosted by the delegation from the Region of Calabria in conjunction with the Fancy Food Show. His region is not only playing an important role at the annual food show in New York. The Italian Trade Commission has also organized Discovering Calabria, a series of events devoted to the lesser-know wine and foods of Calabria, encouraging guests to taste the pleasures of this undiscovered region in Italy.


    What does it mean to promote a

    region like Calabria in New York?

    It wasn’t difficult to do. I’m the son of emigrants. My father lived in Venezuela for many years. I know what it means to live far away from one’s land. We understand the difficulties that emigrant families face, whether they are those living abroad or those who remain at home. And so it is important to reach out to our fellow countrymen and their children and grandchildren. One of the means to connect is certainly through Calabrian products. By coming here we do two things: we get in touch with the emigrant who left Calabria and who perhaps feels nostalgic, and we promote quality products that can compete on a global level.

    It’s a project that we undertook in 2005 and continue to accomplish it with ease. We have already made great strides. The Italian Trade Commission knows it. We have improved the way in which we present ourselves over the years and I think this year has been the best one so far.

    We have brought many products here. Young entrepreneurs have taken the reins of small companies; they are professionals, college graduates, motivated young people who can speak several languages... Calabria has changed. It has grown. We must have faith and confidence in the future.

    So Calabrians abroad and those who love Calabria have become ambassadors in their own way….

    I believe that the best promoters of Calabrian products are Calabrians themselves, whether they live in Calabria or abroad. If a guest goes to a Calabrian family’s home and they don’t have wine from Calabria, how can we expect an outsider to appreciate it? Those who have ties to Calabria they are the best people to promote our products here. And there are so many…

    You are now a member of European Parliament. What does this mean for your plan to promote the region?

    So far the regions and local organizations are using the resources within the local communities a great deal. The government has removed many local chapters that benefitted the region’s cities, towns, and counties, and replaced them with taxes imposed on local citizens. Europe is becoming the source that can provide oxygen to local organizations. My presence there has that goal. I think I can do it because the resources are there, and so it has more to do with channeling them properly. The secret is to spend quickly and to spend well. Funds frequently stay in the regions’ coffers and do not attain the desired result.

    How much time and effort does it take to create a promotion like this?

    At least four months. Often the programs are tailored to the region. It’s more straightforward with standard exhibits like the Fancy Food Show; the Italian Trade Commission lets you know what needs to be done. Other individual and personalized initiatives must be planned and researched far in advance. I genuinely believe that this time, this campaign, more than any of the previous ones that promoted the region of Calabria, has been thoroughly and intelligently planned and organized. I am optimistic about the prospects and the returns, and I am proud to be one of the promoters here along with the staff of the Region of Calabria.

    Please click here for more details about the Region of Calabria. Are you read to discover it?

  • Events: Reports

    Springtime Ceremony. IACC and ICE Honor Luminar and Cosmit

    “Springtime ceremony” at the spectacular Rainbow Room in Manhattan. The Italy-America Chamber of Commerce in New York and the  Italian Trade Commission celebrated the excellence of contemporary Italian design and furnishings in the U.S.

    Surrounded by breathtaking views on the 65th floor of Rockefeller Center, we attended the awards ceremony honoring Rosario Messina, president of Federlegno-Arredo, who received the award for Cosmit, and Nasir Kassamali who created Luminar along with his wife, Nargis.  

    The decision to dedicate this yearly event to Italian design was a good choice and a forward-looking one. During this economic crisis it seems particularly important to focus on a unified and internationally-recognized industry as it demonstrates a sign of realistic optimism. 

    Cosmit plays an important role in promoting Italian design in international markets. With nearly fifty years of experience, it has an established international reputation which began in 1961 with the inaugural furniture trade show, Salone del Mobile in Milan. This highly anticipated yearly event also includes concurrent events that take place in the U.S. and Russia.  

    The best products by the most prestigious Italian design companies were on display last week at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair held at the Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. For example, a 3,500 square foot pavilion created by architect Michele De Lucchi was brought from Italy.

     

    Nasir Kassamali, who won the other prize, is the founder of Luminar, the cutting-edge Italian design company specializing in exporting contemporary home furnishings and accessories to the U.S. Nasir graciously accepted the award and immediately presented it to his wife and life-long business partner.

     

    Along with Alberto Comini and Francesco de Angelis, President and Secretary General of IACC respectively, the following illustrious guests also attended the event at Rainbow Room: Consul General Francesco Maria Talò, Roberto Rocca, Director General of the Department for Development and Coordination of Tourism, Viviana Caponi, Vice President of the American Department for Economic Development, Kunimasa Akasaka, Director of the New York State Department of Economic Development, and Elizabeth Daly, who, representing New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, read a message on his behalf.

     

    “Joining forces with the ICE for this event,” said Comini “has enabled us to reach a wider audience as we pursue our mission of promoting Italian enterprise in the U.S.” The Italy-America Chamber of Commerce has a history that dates back to 1887 and it was the first of its kind to be established in the U.S. It continues to play an important daily role in coordinating activities for large, medium, and small Italian companies in the U.S.

     

    In his welcoming remarks, Consul General Francesco Maria Talò was proud to present Italian excellence to the U.S. especially during this time of economic crisis, a crisis which can be overcome with tremendous professionalism and Italian creativity.

     

    Aniello Musella, director of the Italian Trade Commission whose mission is to develop, facilitate, and promote Italian economic and trade relations abroad, recalled the importance of Italian design in the Americas. “Italy is the fifth highest-ranking country that exports furnishings worldwide, and out of these five countries, it is the only one in Europe that exports interior design products to the U.S. Italian design is recognized in the U.S. for its superior quality, luxurious materials, and innovative ideas.”

     (Traslated by Giulia Prestia)

  • Le strade del cinema italiano al Lincoln Center


    Scrittore, critico cinematografico e docente della NYU alla Tisch School of the Arts, Monda è da anni un importante punto di riferimento per la promozione del cinema italiano negli USA.


    E' anche  l'anima di "Open Roads: New Italian Cinema” l’evento più significativo dedicato al cinema italiano contemporaneo a New York che quest'anno  è giunto alla nona edizione.


    Organizzato da Cinecittà Luce-Filmitalia,  ha  come coproduttore la Film Society del Lincoln Center, l’istituzione del New York Film Festival.

    Open Roads, si riconferma con una programmazione eccellente. Qualcosa di cui andare fieri


    Si,  fino ad ora abbiamo presentato circa 120 film. Molti di questi hanno trovato una distribuzione. Questo è il piu grande successo. Nel corso della rassegna riempiamo le sale. Siamo riusciti, in questi anni, a presentare un quadro molto variegato con generi diversi.

    Torniamo  indietro nel tempo. E’ stato difficile avviarlo?


    Sì. Perchè non era mai stata realizzata una cosa del genere. C’era da poco il NICE, un festival a cui faccio i complimenti perchè curato con grande dedizione. Ma è un altra cosa. L’impatto di Open Roads sul pubblico Americano è forte. E questo sicuramente perchè la Film Society of Lincoln Center ha sposato l’inizativa.

    Sono stati tre, secondo me, i punti di forza di Open Roads, che hanno consetito di avvicinare il pubblico americano. Prima di tutto l’impegno della Film Society of Lincoln Center e lo sguardo attento di Richard Peña. Secondo il tuo vivere in prima persona la realtà americana.  Terzo il tuo rapporto diretto con i giovani, visto che sei anche un professore.  Tutto questo consente di intuire le esigenze del pubblico americano. Sei d’accordo?


    Certo. La Film Society è un istituzione importantissima sul territorio. E Richard un esperto insostituibile. Ma il pubblico non si conosce mai bene. E soprattutto quello americano. Per quanto mi riguarda, certo, vedo giovani quotidianamente, so cosa cercano…

    Esiste un filo che collega i film che avete scelto?


    No. Abbiamo un quadro molto variegato. Da film quasi sperimentali come quello di Baricco, film di maestri  del cinema conosciuti come Avati, a proposte di giovani e giovanissimi. Poi il documentario di Mimmo Calopresti, i film di animazione di Ursula Ferrari.


    L’idea base è di non dare una linea precisa ma di mostrare in quali direzioni va il cinema italiano di oggi. Qusto facendo anche vedere come è vitale.


    Invitiamo gli spettatori a trovare loro la linea.

    Cosa lega “Lezione 21”  al “Il papà di Giovanna”?  Pochissimo, se non la voglia di affermare qualcosa di personale.

    Come li avete scelti?

    La qualità soltanto. Nessun criterio particolare. Cerchiamo di non prendere magari solo gli stessi autori. L’intento è di dare spazio e voce atutti. Anche se alcuni ritornano ogni anno. Un’altro aspetto che teniamo in considerazione è il  loro modo di raccontare l’Italia di adesso…


    E come pensi che l’Italia sia raccontata oggi dal cinema italiano?



    L’Italia guarda al passato per capire il presente. Vedi Pupi Avati con il suo film ma anche, mi dicono, Marco Bellocchio con il suo ultimo lavoro. E il presente che si vede è un presente pieno di angoscie e incertezze.


    E il cinema più che mai è diventato la coscienza dell’Italia? Almeno rispetto alla televisione…

    Non voglio dare una lettura politica. Certo racconta un’Italia disorientata, preoccupata e spesso di persone molto sole. Si, molto sole.

    E’ un buon momento per il cinema italiano?

    Ci sono dei registi che hanno realizzato cose molto belle. Mi vengono in mente questi nomi: Garrone, Sorrentino, Saverio Costanzo, Crialese e Virzi. Insieme a loro, e non dico dietro,  ci sono moltissimi fermenti interessanti. E la cosa bella è che ognuno va in una direzione diversa. Non c’è una linea unica…

    Quale è una qualità che oggi distingue il cinema italiano?

    La  voglia di raccontare il nostro disagio, senza ipocrisia, in maniera diretta


    Ma perchè è così difficile portare il cinema italiano all’estero?



    Avviene per qualunque produzione di lingua non inglese. C’è  quella francese, ma rimane lo stesso modesta. Ed è un un cinema aiutato dal governo e che quindi rispetto al nostro ha qualche appoggio  in più. Ma poi quanti film francesi vedi in giro?

    Nel corso della programmazione di Open Roads verranno anche attori, registi?


    Sono attesi Marco Amenta, Donatella Finocchiaro, Silvio Orlando, Dino Gentili, Maria Sole Tognazzi, Filippo Timi, Ursula Ferrara, Teresa Marchesi, and Sandra Petraglia , Mimmo Calopresti…

    E Jovanotti?

    Si, presenterà il film su Fabrizio De Andrè. Si è prestato con grande generosità.  E’ un altro piccolo regalo…

    Subito dopo la rassegna la ricerca per la distribuzione…

    E’ molto importante. Si è sempre innescato un meccanismo … Sono sempre stati acquistati i diritti americani. Almeno due film per volta. Tra questi ricordo L’ultimo bacio, Pane e tulipani, Caterina va in città…



    ***


    La selezione di quest’anno prevede la proiezione di 12 tra i migliori film recenti. Sarà anche presente  un programma firmato da Ursula Ferrara, una delle più grandi artiste dell’animazione italiana,  e  la presentazione di otto cortometraggi.


    Un altro momento  speciale sarà quello della prima proiezione americana di “Effedìa, Sulla Mia Cattiva Strada”, un documentario realizzato da Teresa Marchesi per il decimo anniversario dalla morte di Fabrizio De Andrè.

     
    Saranno presenti alla proiezioni attori, registi, attori, sceneggiatori.


    Organizzato da Cinecittà Luce-Filmitalia, grazie al supporto della Direzione Generale Cinema - MIBAC, ha come coproduttore la Film Society del Lincoln Center, l’istituzione del New York Film Festival.


    Maggiori informazioni sulla programmazione nel sito della
    Film Society del Lincoln Center







  • Life & People

    Springtime Ceremony. IACC and ICE Honor Luminar and Cosmit

    “Springtime ceremony” at the spectacular Rainbow Room in Manhattan. The Italy-America Chamber of Commerce in New York and the  Italian Trade Commission celebrated the excellence of contemporary Italian design and furnishings in the U.S.

    Surrounded by breathtaking views on the 65th floor of Rockefeller Center, we attended the awards ceremony honoring Rosario Messina, president of Federlegno-Arredo, who received the award for Cosmit, and Nasir Kassamali who created Luminare along with his wife, Nargis.  

    The decision to dedicate this yearly event to Italian design was a good choice and a forward-looking one. During this economic crisis it seems particularly important to focus on a unified and internationally-recognized industry as it demonstrates a sign of realistic optimism. 

    Cosmit plays an important role in promoting Italian design in international markets. With nearly fifty years of experience, it has an established international reputation which began in 1961 with the inaugural furniture trade show, Salone del Mobile in Milan. This highly anticipated yearly event also includes concurrent events that take place in the U.S. and Russia.  

    The best products by the most prestigious Italian design companies were on display last week at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair held at the Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. For example, a 3,500 square foot pavilion created by architect Michele De Lucchi was brought from Italy.

     

    Nasir Kassamali, who won the other prize, is the founder of Luminare, the cutting-edge Italian design company specializing in exporting contemporary home furnishings and accessories to the U.S. Nasir graciously accepted the award and immediately presented it to his wife and life-long business partner.

     

    Along with Alberto Comini and Francesco de Angelis, President and Secretary General of IACC respectively, the following illustrious guests also attended the event at Rainbow Room: Consul General Francesco Maria Talò, Roberto Rocca, Director General of the Department for Development and Coordination of Tourism, Viviana Caponi, Vice President of the American Department for Economic Development, Kunimasa Akasaka, Director of the New York State Department of Economic Development, and Elizabeth Daly, who, representing New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, read a message on his behalf.

     

    “Joining forces with the ICE for this event,” said Comini “has enabled us to reach a wider audience as we pursue our mission of promoting Italian enterprise in the U.S.” The Italy-America Chamber of Commerce has a history that dates back to 1887 and it was the first of its kind to be established in the U.S. It continues to play an important daily role in coordinating activities for large, medium, and small Italian companies in the U.S.

     

    In his welcoming remarks, Consul General Francesco Maria Talò was proud to present Italian excellence to the U.S. especially during this time of economic crisis, a crisis which can be overcome with tremendous professionalism and Italian creativity.

     

    Aniello Musella, director of the Italian Trade Commission whose mission is to develop, facilitate, and promote Italian economic and trade relations abroad, recalled the importance of Italian design in the Americas. “Italy is the fifth highest-ranking country that exports furnishings worldwide, and out of these five countries, it is the only one in Europe that exports interior design products to the U.S. Italian design is recognized in the U.S. for its superior quality, luxurious materials, and innovative ideas.”

     (Traslated by Giulia Prestia)