FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

(WASHINGTON, D.C. — FEBRUARY 26, 2007) Veteran filmmaker Martin Scorsese, legendary Italian film composer Ennio Morricone, and costume designer Milena Canonero each received Oscars from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences at yesterday’s 79th Annual Academy Awards.

“The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is proud to congratulate Milena Canonero, Ennio Morricone, and Martin Scorsese. On behalf of the NIAF Board of Directors, I heartily applaud their achievements, and the achievements of all Italians and Italian Americans nominated for this honor,” Dr. A. Kenneth Ciongoli, the NIAF Chairman, said.

Scorsese, who has been nominated six times for an Oscar, won best director for “The Departed” (Warner Bros.). The 64-year-old, Italian-American actor turned filmmaker was first nominated in 1981 for “Raging Bull.” Similarly, after being nominated for five Academy Awards, Italian native Morricone received an honorary Oscar at the February 25 ceremony. He has scored more than 400 films in Europe and the United States, including “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” and “The Untouchables.” Canonero was recognized for Achievement in Costume Design for her work on “Marie Antoinette” (Sony Pictures). She has previously won Oscars for her work on “Barry Lyndon” and “Chariots of Fire.”

Other Italian-American nominees included Leonardo DiCaprio for Best Supporting Actor in “Blood Diamond” (Warner Bros.) and Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano for Achievement in Makeup for “Apocalypto” (Buena Vista).

NIAF is a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to preserving the heritage of Italian Americans. Visit www.niaf.org.