David di Donatello facts for kids
Quick facts for kids David di Donatello Awards |
|
|---|---|
| Presented by | Academy of Italian Cinema |
| Date | 1955 |
| Country | Italy |
| First awarded | 5 June 1956 |
The David di Donatello Awards are super important film awards given out every year in Italy. They are named after a famous statue called David by the artist Donatello, which is a symbol of the Italian Renaissance.
These awards are given by the Accademia del Cinema Italiano, which means the Academy of Italian Cinema. As of 2023, there are 26 different award categories!
Many people think these awards are Italy's version of the American Academy Awards (the Oscars). They are among the top awards in Italy, just like the Sanremo Music Festival for music or the Venice Film Festival for movies.
Contents
History of the Awards
The David di Donatello Awards started in 1955. Their goal was to celebrate the best Italian and international films each year. The very first awards ceremony happened in Rome on July 5, 1956.
Before the David di Donatello awards, there were other film prizes in Italy, like the Nastro d'Argento. But those were chosen by film critics and journalists. What makes the David di Donatello Awards special is that they are voted on by people who actually work in the film industry. This includes actors, producers, directors, writers, and technicians.
After being held in Rome, the ceremony moved to the Greek Theatre in Taormina from 1957 to 1980. It was part of the Taormina Film Fest. Then, it was held twice in Florence before returning to Rome. The President of the Italian Republic always supports these awards.
The organization that started these awards is now called the Accademia del Cinema Italiano. They work with the Italian government to make sure the awards happen. Most of the prizes go to Italian films, but there's also a special category for foreign-language movies.
Leaders of the Academy
The Accademia del Cinema Italiano has had several presidents over the years. These leaders help guide the academy and the awards.
The current president is Piera Detassis, who started in 2018. She is the first woman to hold this important position!
The Trophy
The David di Donatello trophy is a beautiful gold statuette. It's a small copy of Donatello's famous David sculpture. The statuette stands on a square base made of malachite, which is a green stone. On the base, there's a gold plaque that shows the award category, the year, and the name of the winner.
One interesting fact is that the 1956 David trophy, made by the famous jeweler Bulgari and given to Gina Lollobrigida, was sold at an auction in 2013!
Award Categories
The David di Donatello Awards celebrate many different parts of filmmaking. Here are some of the main categories:
- David di Donatello for Best Film
- David di Donatello for Best Director
- David di Donatello for Best New Director
- David di Donatello for Best Producer
- David di Donatello for Best Actress
- David di Donatello for Best Actor
- David di Donatello for Best Supporting Actress
- David di Donatello for Best Supporting Actor
- David di Donatello for Best Original Screenplay
- David di Donatello for Best Adapted Screenplay
- David di Donatello for Best Cinematography
- David di Donatello for Best Score (for the music in a film)
- David di Donatello for Best Original Song
- David di Donatello for Best Set Designer
- David di Donatello for Best Costumes
- David di Donatello for Best Makeup
- David di Donatello for Best Hair Design
- David di Donatello for Best Editing
- David di Donatello for Best Sound
- David di Donatello for Best Visual Effects VFX
- David di Donatello for Best Documentary Feature
- David di Donatello for Best Foreign Film
- David di Donatello for Best Short Film
- David Youth Award (This award is for younger audiences!)
- David Special Award (Given for special achievements or careers)
- David Viewers' Award (This award started in 2019 and is chosen by the audience!)
Top Winners
Some actors have won many David di Donatello awards! As of 2020, four actors have won seven awards each. They are Margherita Buy, Alberto Sordi, Vittorio Gassman, and Sophia Loren. That's a lot of awards!
See also
In Spanish: Premio David de Donatello para niños
- Italian entertainment awards
