FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact:   Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org

(WASHINGTON, DC – October 7, 2005) The films of legendary stars Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni will headline the fourth annual Washington, Italia, Film Festival. The festival, held during the National Italian American Foundation’s (NIAF) 30th Anniversary Gala Convention weekend, runs October 11-16 at Loews Cineplex in Georgetown. All movie events are free and open to the public. 

Screenings of Ms. Loren’s and Mr. Mastroianni’s films will be shown during the festival including:Divorce-Italian Style (1961) on Tuesday, October 11; A Special Day (1977) on Wednesday, October 12;Marriage Italian-Style (1964) on Friday, October 14; and According to Pereira (1963) on Sunday, October 16.

Actor Franco Nero will be present at the opening of the festival designed to promote ‘’Made in Italy’’ movies in the United States. He also is slated for other appearances during the festival. Mr. Nero’s newest film , Forever Blues , will be shown at 7 p.m. October 11.

NIAF is a co-sponsor of Washington, Italia, which is organized by Capri in the World Institute in collaboration with Italian film companies, Cinecitta Holding and RAI Trade. Washington, Italia brings together directors, actors, the best new Italian productions, and classic films for six days of screenings, discussions and premieres to promote the new Italian cinema and renew interest in its great masters.

During the NIAF convention weekend, NIAF will also host a screening of Sophia Loren’s film Francesca e Nunziata in the Georgetown Room on the Terrace level of the Washington Hilton and Towers on Saturday, October 15 at 2:30 PM.

During the evening of October 15, more than 3,000 people from across America and Italy will meet in the nation’s capital to attend NIAF’s 30th Anniversary Gala at the Washington Hilton and Towers. Actors Danny Aiello, Dennis Farina and Antonio Sabato, Jr., singers Jay Black, and Natalie Merchant, and baseball greats Yogi Berra and Tommy Lasorda, will join popular entertainer Tony Danza, the evening’s master of ceremonies, at the gala.

This year’s gala honorees include: Paul S. Otellini, president and CEO of Intel; General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Michelle Peluso, president and CEO of Travelocity; and Ambassador Peter F. Secchia, chairman of the board at Universal Forest Products Inc., and managing partner of SIBSCO LLC.

For further information, visit www.washingtonitalia.com or www.niaf.org. Contact the festival’s contact at 202-237-2080 or Bonni Cellini (NIAF) at 202-929-3114 for gala dinner tickets.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC and dedicated to preserving the heritage of Italian Americans. Visitwww.niaf.org