New Academy CEO Bill Kramer and senior leadership will attend Venice International Film Festival and participate in events, marking the first time the body has officially attended the festival.
Screen understands Kramer, who started in his role last week, is eager to engage in international activities and raise the Academy’s global profile. To this end he will be in Italy for the opening night gala and meet members, industry and press.
The executive, who most recently spearheaded the Academy Museum launch and has worked in arts fundraising for much of his career, will take part in a panel discussion about the Academy’s future and its activities in Europe on the Lido on August 30 with leadership from Venice, Cinecittà and main festival sponsor Mastercard.
The itinerary of events include a cocktail reception and exclusive dinner.
“The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is an international organisation that is deeply committed to celebrating global cinema,” said Kramer. “We are thrilled to be joining our film family in Italy to broaden and strengthen our goal to engage our members around the world. Special thanks to our partners Cinecittà, Mastercard, and the Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica di Venezia for their incredible support of our efforts and this trip.”
Roberto Cicutto, president of Biennale di Venezia, and Alberto Barbera, director of the Venice International Film Festival, added: “It is an important sign for the Italian movie industry and the entire international film community that the Ampas has chosen Venice to introduce its new CEO to the world.
“It confirms the intention of the Ampas to open up, more and more, to international partners, but it is also the significant recognition of the central role played by the Venice Film Festival in the promotion and enhancement of the best films in general, and of American ones in particular. We welcome the Ampas for the first time and we hope this will be just the beginning of a long-lasting friendship.”
Cinecittà CEO Nicola Maccanico said, “Our relationship with the Academy dates back almost 30 years. In the past we have presented some of the most relevant Italian authors, and this tradition is continuing at the new Academy Museum, of which we are proud founding supporters.”
He continued, “Cinecittà is undergoing deep changes; our studios are in the process of being completely renewed and are already full of international artists we hope to see selected at festivals in the world. There is great enthusiasm for the future, and we hope our movies will continue to detain [sic] the record of the Oscars received by an international country.”
Mastercard Italy country manager Michele Centemero expressed the company’s “support to these important institutions devoted to preserve and project into the future the art of cinema”.
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