Il film “La siciliana ribelle” a New York con la Fondazione Italia USA

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Eurofilm, R&C Produzioni, Roissy Films and Rai Cinema is organizing, under the auspices of the Italy-USA Foundation, the American showing of the movie “The Sicilian Girl” by Marco Amenta. The film is inspired by the true story of Rita Atria. The event will be held in New York on August 4, 2010 at Film Forum Theatre. The movie unfolds like an ancient tragedy set in the picturesque landscape of Sicily. It is a universal story, the story of resistance to oppression, the story of man fighting against his own destiny. Emphasizing the dramatic life of Rita, the movie attempts to give a perspective on women belonging to Mafia families bearing silently or fighting unwritten rules and codes. The movie aims to be both a tribute and a symbol of hope. For the women fighting Cosa Nostra, the Sicilian girl becomes a symbol. The movie is produced with the sponsorship of Sicily Region and the Italian Ministry of Culture.

The Italy-USA Foundation honoring the Medal of Honor Salvatore Giunta

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SSG Salvatore Giunta, a paratrooper of the 173rd Airborne, is the first living Medal of Honor recipient since the Vietnam War. He earned this by charging a group of Taliban who were trying to make off with a wounded comrade in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration. “Italy and the United States have been exchanging culture, goods, and traditions for a long time, making it clear that neither one of the two countries would be what it is today without the contribution from the other. I am pleased to offer cordial congratulations to the SSG Salvatore Giunta on the occasion of the Medal of Honor. I am sure that this award to a brave Italian American soldier will further strengthen the bonds of friendship that exist between Italy and United States of America. We salute SSG Salvatore Giunta and all who serve or have served the friendship between our countries”, said the President of Italy-USA Foundation, Hon. Rocco Girlanda, in a letter sent to the US Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates.

“Scala incontra New York” con la Fondazione Italia USA

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The oldest town on the Amalfi Coast, Scala, meets New York, the most modern town in the world. The new edition of the event “Scala meets New York” will be held from August 11 to September 11, together with the Italy-USA Foundation and under the auspices of the President of Italian Republic. Many events will be organized by the Foundation in the rich program of cultural, spiritual, artistic and political activities, like the permanent exhibition on 9/11 and the participation of the President of the Foundation Hon. Rocco Girlanda in the conference with national and international personalities, that will conclude the month of events. In the photo, from left, Rocco Girlanda and the US Consul to Naples J. Patrick Truhn.

Message to the Italy-USA Foundation from the President of the Italian Republic

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On occasion of the American tour of the Symphonic Orchestra of Rome under the auspices of the Italy-USA Foundation, the President of the Italian Republic Hon. Giorgio Napolitano sent a message to the Italy-USA Foundation, with his “best wishes for the tour and for the many prestigious activities of the Italy-USA Foundation. The Foundation contributes to the special friendship and relationship between Italy and United States, with common values, in particular the culture as factor of civil and social growth”. In the photo, the President Giorgio Napolitano meets the President of the Italy-USA Foundation, Rocco Girlanda, at the Quirinal Palace.

Aaron Tipping in Italy under the auspices of the Italy-USA Foundation

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Aaron Tippin, considered to be one of the greatest country music performer, will hold the unique stage appearance in Italy on June 26, 2010, at the Voghera Country Festival under the auspices of the Italy-USA Foundation. Several of his albums made it into the top ten, like his post 9/11 song “Where the stars & stripes and the eagle fly”.

The Italy-USA Foundation met the President of the Seattle-Perugia Association

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A delegation of the Italy-USA Foundation lead by the Hon. Rocco Girlanda, President of the Foundation, met in Perugia the President of the Seattle-Perugia Sister City Association, Mike James. Below is a summary of the press release.

“I agree with the stand Mike James took: it is not against the city of Perugia we have to fight against, but against a miscarriage of justice. I hope a more positive picture is forming, recreating the friendship which ideally should be everywhere”. These were the words of Amanda Knox in a letter she addressed some days ago to the to the Italy-USA Foundation on the debate that ensued following the decision to put the naming of a Seattle park in honor of Perugia on hold and during the tour of the President of the Seattle-Perugia Sister City Association, Mike James.

A delegation of the Italy-USA Foundation recently went to Seattle and also met with Mike James, who was in Perugia as a guest of the President of the Italy-USA Foundation, Hon. Rocco Girlanda.

“I had hoped that Seattle, of all places, could make the distinction between a long friendship, a sister-city relationship, and a verdict – said Mike James -. I believed we could honor that friendship and at the same time freely critique a verdict many of us found deeply disappointing. I believed we could, through the park, begin to see the real Perugia beyond the headlines. I hope we still can”.

“Italy and the US have always had a very strong bond of friendship of which history bears fitness – said the Hon. Rocco Girlanda -. I think that anyone wishing to really help Amanda should appeal to the friendship between our two countries rather than trying to destroy it. The relationship Seattle and Perugia embody such values and I sincerely hope the City of Seattle will choose this path, proceeding with the naming of the Seattle Park in honor of the city of Perugia. Amanda herself has repeatedly written to the Italy-USA Foundation and has personally stated her disagreement with those who are using her and the events to launch messages of hatred towards Italy”.

The Italy-USA Foundation met in Italy the NIAF delegation

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The Italy-USA Foundation was represented by its Executive Director, Hon. Catia Polidori, at the meetings with NIAF – National Italian American Foundation, which took place in Rome. NIAF sent a mission to Italy bringing together board members, business leaders and government officials to discuss key issues influencing cultural, economic, and diplomatic relations between the US and Italy.

The Symphony Orchestra of Rome in US with the Italy-USA Foundation

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The Symphony Orchestra of Rome, under the auspices of the Italy-USA Foundation, United Nations and FAO, for the very first time in a tour in the United States, starting on June 7 with a concert at the Carnegie Hall of New York and ending in Washington DC on June 20 with a concert dedicated to peace and the fight against hunger at the J.F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. The Orchestra will also perform in Morristown, Springfield, Boston, Trenton e Philadelphia. The Symphony Orchestra of Rome will perform at the Carnegie Hall of New York on June 7, at the Mayo Performing Arts Center of Morristown on June 8, at the Symphony Hall of Springfield on June 11, at the Symphony Hall of Boston on June 13, at the Memorial Hall of Trenton on June 15 and at the Verizon Hall at Kimmel Center of  Philadelphia on  June 18. A special concert dedicated to peace and the fight against hunger will close the tour with a last date at the J.F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts of Washington DC.

The 2010 America Award promoted by Italy-USA Foundation was announced

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The Italy-USA Foundation promotes the America Award; it is a prestigious recognition of great civil and institutional work, conferred yearly under the auspices of the President of the Italian Republic, Hon. Giorgio Napolitano. The award is mainly seen as a means to acknowledge and encourage initiatives and work aimed at favouring relationships between Italy and the United States of America. Prominent personalities of any nationality who stand out for their work and results in promoting transatlantic friendship will be considered. Last year the jury has awarded Maria Laura Baccarini, actress and singer, Emilio Carelli, editor of SkyTg24, Jo Champa, actress and producer, Franco Frattini, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pierfrancesco Guarguaglini, President Finmeccanica, Igor Man, journalist, Ennio Morricone, composer, Alison Smale, editor of the International Herald Tribune, Walter Veltroni, journalist and member of Parliament, Umberto Veronesi, founder of the American Italian Cancer Foundation. The next edition of the prize will be held in Rome, at the Chamber of Deputies, on October 7, 2010, with Veronica Maya. It’s possible to submit nominations for the awards, including a short motivation, by sending an email before June 30, 2010. Unsigned nominations or nickname signatures will not be taken into consideration.

A conference of the University for Foreigners Perugia

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A conference of the University for Foreigners Perugia under the auspices of the Italy-USA Foundation, discussing “Obama, between criticism and consensus ”, will be held in Perugia at 5:00 pm on May 28, 2010 at the Goldoniana Hall of University. The seminar will be introduced by the President of the Italy-USA Foundation, Hon. Rocco Girlanda.