International
Nicholas Cage to receive ‘Legend Award’ at 11th Annual Ischia Global Film and Music Festival
NEW DELHI: Academy Award-winner and renowned actor Nicolas Cage will receive a 2013 "Ischia Legend Award" at the Ischia Global Film & Music Festival on 19 July.
A special screening of his latest motion picture, Emmett/Furla Films‘ The Frozen Ground, will take place that night during a gala evening at the Regina Isabella Hotel on Ischia‘s Lacco Ameno bay. Co-star Vanessa Hudgens and producers 50 Cent and Randall Emmett will join the Hollywood superstar and the director at the event, according to Festival founder and producer Pascal Vicedomini.
The annual festival will be held from 14 to 21 July on the picturesque isle that is located off the coast of Naples. It is presented under the auspices of the Ischia International Arts Academy with the support of BNL-Group, BNP PARIBAS, and 3 Italy along with the sponsorship of the Italian Culture Ministry and the Campania Region.
Cage, nephew of filmmaker Francis Ford and of actress Talia Shire, has appeared in more than 60 films and is one of the most celebrated actors in the world. In 1996 he won the Best Actor Oscar and Golden Globe for Mike Figgis‘ Leaving Las Vegas and in 2002 he was nominated by the Academy for Spike Jonze‘s Adaptation. Cage has worked with the greatest contemporary masters from Alan Parker (Birdy) to David Lynch (Wild at Heart), from Martin Scorsese (Bringing Out the Dead) to Brian De Palma‘s (Snake Eyes), from Ridley Scott (Matchstick Men) to Werner Herzog (The Bad Lieutenant) and Joel Schumacher (Trespass).
His vast filmography also includes Raising Arizona, The Rock, Face/Off, Con Air, Gone in 60 Seconds, National Treasure, Lord of War, Ghost Rider, Kick-Ass, and The Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. In 2013, he voiced the character of Crug in the animated film The Croods. His next film will be David Gordon Green‘s Joe.
"Nicolas Cage has been praised for his daring performances and fearless choice of roles," said Vicedomini. "He is truly one of the great male movie stars and we welcome him with open arms to our festival and to the island of Ischia." Vicedomini also thanked the producers of The Frozen Ground for allowing the Ischia Global Fest to screen the film.
Directed by Scott Walker, it is a thriller based on the life of serial killer Robert Hansen – played by John Cusack – a seemingly quiet family man who in the ‘80s terrorized Alaska by abducting, torturing and killing 24 women. Cage plays the role of the Sheriff while Hudgens plays a stripper trying to lure the assassin. The film also stars rapper 50 Cent.
Noted film producer and executive Arnon Milchan and actor Samuel L. Jackson have already been announced as 2013 Ischia Legend Award recipients. Prior recipients include Oliver Stone, Vanessa Redgrave, Sir Ben Kingsley, Hilary Swank and music icons Sting, Burt Bacharach, Harry Belafonte and producer/executive Clive Davis.
Joining Vicedomini in overseeing this year‘s Ischia Global Film & Music Fest are President Michele Placido, Honorary Presidents Trudie Styler and Tony Renis, and an Executive Board comprised of producers Mark Canton, Marina Cicogna, Rick Nicita, Paula Wagner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, multi Oscar-winning production designers Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo, president of Cinecitt? Studios Luigi Abete, Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis and Italian movie icons Franco Nero, Lina Wertmuller and Enrico Lucherini.
International
Moskino and Bollywood: Moscow Film Cluster and Film City Mumbai signed a cooperation agreement
Moscow Film Cluster has signed a cooperation agreement with Film City Mumbai. The parties agreed to cooperate in developing the film industry, promoting shooting locations and supporting filmmakers.
The memorandum was signed on the sidelines of the India International Film Tourism (IIFTC) Conclave in Mumbai. At this forum, the Moscow Film Cluster presented Moscow’s opportunities for film shooting, including infrastructure projects such as Film City Moskino and Film Factory. Special attention was paid to the Moscow rebate system – up to 45% – and the co-production development.
Memorandum of Understanding between the Film City and Moscow Film Cluster provides for the establishment and development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the film industry development, including joint promotion of shooting locations, support for filmmakers, implementation of marketing and industry events, development of incentive support measures and strengthening of economic and cultural interaction between India and Moscow.
The parties also intend to promote the development of the audiovisual sector through the exchange of experience, joint initiatives and the search for opportunities to create new industry partnerships and clusters.
Moscow Film Cluster is a major city initiative led by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin to develop the capital into a global cinema hub. It brings together key production infrastructure – such as the Moskino Film Сity, Film Factory and Gorky Film Studio – along with the Film Commission, digital platform and cinema chain to streamline shooting, support productions and attract international filmmaking to Moscow.
Also, Moscow offers a rebate of up to 45%: 30% as direct production cost compensation, up to 15% for visa and accommodation support. The Moscow Image Grant provides up to $255,000 for films showcasing iconic city views.
The Moscow Film Cluster booth attracted considerable attention from Indian producers and studios. Over 80 business meetings were held, including those with major Indian companies.
One of the booth guests was the famous Indian actress Khushboo Sundar, known to Soviet and Russian audiences for her role in My Soul and considered the leading star of Tamil cinema, in whose honor one of the local temples was even built. Prithul Kumar, representative of the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and one of the officials responsible for regulating the film industry in the country, also expressed interest in the development of the Moscow Film Cluster.
One of the highlights of the India International Film Tourism Conclave was the awarding of The Greatest of All Time in the For Cinematic Excellence category. The movie was shot in Moscow. The jury members noted the project’s contribution to the development of tourism.
The shooting of The Greatest of All Time AGS by Entertainment was organized with the assistance of the Moscow Film Cluster and the Moscow Film Commission and took place in April 2024 on the streets of Moscow. The scenes were shot in such famous locations as Patriarch Bridge, Teatralnaya Square, Manezhnaya Square, Kazarmenny Lane, Podsosensky Lane, Nikolskaya Street and one of the festival venues of Moscow Seasons.
The Greatest of All Time became a landmark event in Indian box office history. It ranked fourth in box office earnings among all movies released in India in 2024 and is one of the most successful Tamil-language movies in history.
At the same time, the shooting of another joint Russian-Indian movie started at the Moskino Film City in Moscow. A film project dedicated to badminton became one of the first participants in the Moscow rebate program.
A project by Smena & WISH Media (Russia) and Kartina Entertainment And Sports Private Limited (India) will tell the story of a badminton player who travels to India with the Russian national team to compete in a tournament. Russian viewers will see for the first time the scale of sporting competitions in Asia, where badminton is a cult sport and draws packed stands of fans.
The agreement on the joint production of the Smash movie was signed st the Moscow International Film Week in August 2025. And as Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said, a rebate application was also submitted at that time to reimburse part of the costs incurred during the shooting process in the Russian capital.
