Two Cannes prizewinners, Paolo Sorrentino’s political drama “Il Divo” and Matteo Garrone’s mafia tale “Gomorrah,” topped the list of nominations for Italy’s David di Donatello Awards, to be presented May 8. “Il Divo,” which chronicles the career of seven-time Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti (played by Tony Servillo) and his ties to organized crime, was honored with 16 nominations, including best film, director, producer, actor, and screenplay. The film won the Special Jury Award at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. “Il Divo” and “Gomorrah” also competed for best film at the European Film Awards, where “Gomorrah” emerged victorious.
“Gomorrah,” which IFC Films is currently playing in U.S. theaters, picked up 11 nominations, including best film, alongside Fausto Brizzi’s “Ex,” “Paolo Virzi’s “Tutta La Vita Davanti,” and Giulio Mandredonia’s “Si Puo Fare.” A Golden Globe nominee for best foreign film, “Gomorrah” was awarded the Grand Prix at Cannes and was a Golden Globe nominee for best foreign film. “Gomorrah,” adapted from the bestselling crime exposé by Roberto Saviano, was also Italy’s official submission for the Oscars, and there was a loud outcry in the U.S. foreign film community when the film did not make the preliminary shortlist of nine films that vied for the five nomination slots for the best foreign film Oscar.
Along with Tony Servillo for “Il Divo,” the nominees for best actor are Luca Argentero (“Diverso da Chi?”), Claudio Bisio (“Si Puo Fare”), Valerio Mastandrea (“Non Pensarci”) and Silvio Orlando (“Il Papa di Giovanna”).
Nominees for best actress are Alba Rohrwacher (“Il Papa di Giovanna”), Ilaria Occhini (“Mar Nero”), Valeria Golino (“Giulia Non Esce La Sera”), Claudia Gerini (“Diverso da Chi?”) and Donatella Finocchiaro (“Galantuomini”).
The best foreign film nominees are “Gran Torino,” “Milk,” “The Visitor,” “Wall-E,” and “The Wrestler,” while the nominees for best European film are “The Class,” “The Lemon Tree,” “The Reader,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” and “Waltz With Bashir.”