04/05/2022 - The Hand of God scoops 5 prizes, including Best Film and Best Director, while 6 mostly technical Davids go to Freaks Out, and 3 are bagged by Ennio

Paolo Sorrentino (right) with his 2022 David di Donatello for Best Film; by his side, actor Toni Servillo and Italian Film Academy president Piera Detassis

Best Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Teresa Saponangelo), Best Photography and the David di Donatello Youth Jury Award: these were the spoils taken home by Paolo Sorrentino by way of The Hand of God [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Paolo Sorrentino
film profile] on the occasion of the 67th edition of the David di Donatello Awards. These most important trophies in the world of Italian film were handed out last night during a ceremony which had at long last returned to its physical form and was broadcast on RAI 1, live from the Cinecittà studios. Its closest rival, Freaks Out [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Gabriele Mainetti
film profile] by Gabriele Mainetti (both films earned nominations in 16 categories), cleaned out when it came to the technical David awards, in the fields of best screenplay, photography (won jointly with The Hand of God), make-up, hair design, visual effects and production.

The various acting categories were predominantly won by new faces in the field: Saponangelo aside, a first David following a first ever nomination for the Best Actress accolade was scooped by 17-year-old Swamy Rotolo from Jonas Carpignano’s A Chiara [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jonas Carpignano
film profile], while an emotional Eduardo Scarpetta claimed Best Supporting Actor for The King of Laughter [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Mario Martone
film profile] (Mario Martone’s film also triumphed when it came to costumes). The David for Best Actor, meanwhile, went to seasoned performer Silvio Orlando (now on his third David) for The Inner Cage [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Leonardo Di Costanzo
film profile], a movie by Leonardo di Costanzo which also bagged the Best Original Screenplay David, with Best Adapted Screenplay going to Giuseppe Bonito’s L’Arminuta [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Giuseppe Bonito
film profile].

Laura Samani’s victory in the category of Best New Director, courtesy of Small Body [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Laura Samani
film profile], was met with thunderous applause, while Giuseppe Tornatore’s Ennio [+see also:
film review
trailer
making of
film profile] was crowned Best Documentary (making this the filmmaker’s 11th David in his career), as well as doing itself proud in the sound and editing fields.

Best International Film was won by Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile].

This celebration of Italian film also saw various audiovisual professionals appealing to the public at a time when cinemas are reaching crisis point and masks must be worn until 15 June. As RAI Cinema’s CEO Paolo Del Brocco summarised, “We need to return to cinemas to watch films […] because without cinemas Italian film will die”.

The winners of the 67th David di Donatello Awards are as follows:

Best Film
The Hand of God [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Paolo Sorrentino
film profile] - Paolo Sorrentino

Best Director
Paolo Sorrentino – The Hand of God

Best New Director
Laura Samani – Small Body [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Laura Samani
film profile] (Italy/France/Slovenia)

Best Actress
Swamy Rotolo - A Chiara [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jonas Carpignano
film profile] (Italy/France)

Best Actor
Silvio Orlando – The Inner Cage [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Leonardo Di Costanzo
film profile] (Italy/Switzerland)

Best Supporting Actress
Teresa Saponangelo – The Hand of God

Best Supporting Actor
Eduardo Scarpetta – The King of Laughter [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Mario Martone
film profile] (Italy/Spain)

Best Original Screenplay
Leonardo Di Costanzo, Bruno Oliviero, Valia Santella – The Inner Cage

Best Adapted Screenplay
Monica Zapelli, Donatella Di Pietrantonio - L’Arminuta [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Giuseppe Bonito
film profile] (Italy/Switzerland)

Best Producer
Freaks Out [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Gabriele Mainetti
film profile] (Italy/Belgium) – Andrea Occhipinti, Stefano Massenzi, Mattia Guerra (Lucky Red); Gabriele Mainetti (Goon Films); RAI Cinema

Best Photography
Daria D’Antonio - The Hand of God
Michele D’Attanasio - Freaks Out

Best Composer
Nicola Piovani - I fratelli De Filippo [+see also:
trailer
film profile]

Best Original Song
La profondità degli abissi (Manuel Agnelli) - Diabolik [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]

Best Set Design
Massimiliano Sturiale, Ilaria Fallacara - Freaks Out

Best Costumes
Ursula Patzak – The King of Laughter

Best Make-Up
Diego Prestopino, Emanuele De Luca, Davide De Luca - Freaks Out

Best Hair Design
Marco Perna - Freaks Out

Best Editing
Ennio [+see also:
film review
trailer
making of
film profile] - Massimo Quaglia, Annalisa Schillaci (Italy/Belgium/China/Japan)

Best Sound
Ennio

Best Visual Effects
Freaks Out

Best Documentary
Ennio - Giuseppe Tornatore

Best International Film
Belfast [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Kenneth Branagh (UK)

David di Donatello Youth Jury Award
The Hand of God - Paolo Sorrentino

Best Short Film
Maestrale - Nico Bonomolo

David di Donatello Audience Award
Me contro te - Il mistero della scuola incantata

Special David Awards
Sabrina Ferilli
Antonio Capuano

David di Donatello Lifetime Achievement Award
Giovanna Ralli

(Translated from Italian)