AMIDEI AWARD
INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY
project contact person: Samantha Punis
client: “Sergio Amidei” Cultural Association
organisational director: Giuseppe Longo
co-organised and co-created with: Palazzo del Cinema Association / Hiša Filma, DAMS – University of Udine
scientific committee: Mariapia Comand, Sara Martin, Roy Menarini, Martina Pizzamiglio, Steven Stergar, Simone Venturini
graphic design: Graphic Opera
communication and media relations: Atemporary Studio
period: 2009 — 2022
Invited to handle the Amidei Award’s external communication, press office and media relations for the 2009 edition, which featured director and screenwriter Paul Schrader [director: American Gigolo, Cat People, The Comfort of Strangers…; screenplays: Yakuza, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Mosquito Coast… ], AtemporaryStudio subsequently supported the Award in its communication activities until 2022.
The Amidei Award is the annual event on the national artistic and film calendar to discuss screenwriting and, more generally, writing dedicated to the moving image. It is a moment of exchange and investigation with major international figures in which the different forms of writing – not only film but also television and criticism – are analysed, recounted, and shown.
Originating from an idea that blossomed in 1977 following a meeting at the Belgrade International Film Festival between the senator Darko Bratina and screenwriter Sergio Amidei, the project was completed in the summer of 1981, unfortunately a few months after Amidei’s death.
Hence the decision to dedicate the first edition of the Award to him, with the screening of 22 films for which he wrote the screenplay. The screenings were accompanied by round tables and meetings attended by figures from the world of cinema who were friends or witnesses of Amidei’s work: these included Alberto Sordi, Ettore Scola, Nanny Loy, Mario Monicelli, Furio Scarpelli,Giovanna Ralli and Jean Girault.
Awarded for the first time in 1983 by the then jury consisting of Agenore Incrocci, Aldo Bernardini, Suso Cecchi D’Amico, Franco Cristaldi, Mario Monicelli, Giovanna Ralli and Ettore Scola, the Award has developed over time to the status of a Festival with several prizes, sections, special events, masterclasses and meetings with the authors.
The International Award for Best Screenplay represents recognition for the most original screenplay capable of experimenting with new narrative formulas and went among the others to Gianni Amelio, Federica Fava, Edoardo Petti for Il signore delle formiche (Lord of the Ants directed by Gianni Amelio); to Sergio Rubini, Angelo Pasquini, Carla Cavalluzzi per I Fratelli De Filippo (directed by Sergio Rubini) prize ex-aequo with Andris Feldmanis, Livia Ulman, Rosa Liksom and Juho Kuosmanen for the film Compartment n.6 (directed by Juho Kuosmanen); to Valeria Golino, Francesca Marciano, Valia Santella for Miele (directed by Valeria Golino); to Asghar Farhadi for A Separation (directed by Farhadi himself); to Sylvain Chomet for The Illusionist (directed by Chomet himself); Risi, Jim Carrington, Andrea Purgatori for Fortapasc (directed by Marco Risi) (incomplete list).
Over the years, the Auteur Award has been presented to figures such as Bernard Tavernier, Patrice Leconte, Robert Guédiguian, Edgar Reitz, Ken Loach, Abbas Kiarostami, Alex de la Iglesia, Paul Schrader, Silvio Soldini, Carlo Verdone, Vittorio and Paolo Taviani, Ettore Scola and Franco Giraldi, Giuliano Montaldo, Otar Ioseliani, Fabio Carpi, Miklòs Jancsò, Mario Martone, Margarethe Von Trotta, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, and Pupi Avati (incomplete list).
TheFilm Culture Award has been presented to Vieri Razzini, Irene Bignardi, the radio programme Hollywood Party on Rai Radio3, the I ragazzi del Cinema America Association, the 100autori Association, Paolo Mereghetti, Sergio Toffetti, Walter Veltroni and Piera Detassis, and ANAC (incomplete list).
