12/11/2002 - Roberto Benigni's film selected by David di Donatello jury to represent Italy in the best foreign film category at the Oscars. The 5 nominees will be announced on 11 Feb

Pinocchio by Roberto Benigni will represent Italy in the best foreign film category at the 75th edition of the Oscars. Italy was the last country in Europe to announce its choice during this morning’s press conference in Rome. The film was selected by the 360 voting members of the David di Donatello Award. Benigni famously won three Academy Awards (best actor, director and shared original screenplay) in 1999 for Life is Beautiful. Pinocchio is performing very well at the Italian box office where it has the promotional support of leading companies like Medusa and Miramax. The film beat some stiff competition from Marco Bellocchio’s My Mother’s Smile , Silvio Soldini’s Brucio nel vento, Cristina Comencini’s Il più bel giorno della mia vita, Emidio Greco’s Il Consiglio d’Egitto and Emanuele Crialese’s Respiro.
The next hurdle for Pinocchio will come on 11 February when the Academy president will announce the five films in the Oscar race. The presentation will take place on 23 March at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.

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