The Nastri D’Argento Awards: Who Could and Should Win

This is a particularly competitive year for the Nastro d’Argento (Silver Ribbon), a film award by the Sindacato Nazionale Giornalisti Cinematografici Italiani (“Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists”). The Nastro d’argento is the oldest movie award in Europe, and the second oldest in the world (only the Academy Awards are older).

Best Director, the nominees are:
□ Daniele LUCHETTI – Anni Felici
□ Ferzan OZPETEK – Allacciate le Cinture
□ Alice ROHRWACHER – Le Meraviglie
□ Paolo VIRZI’ – Il Capitale Umano (will win)
□ Edoardo WINSPEARE – In Grazia di Dio

What a competition! Any other year a film like Daniele Luchetti’s Anni Felici would have a good chance, but with Virzì and Rohrwacher in the race, I’m afraid the competition will be a little too much. Alice Rohrwacher’s Le Meravigle just won second place at Cannes, and Virzì’s Capitale Umana is wowing everyone.

My guess is Paolo Virzì’s Il Capitale Umano

Don't look so sad, PIF, you'll probably win Best New Director — Don’t look so sad, PIF, you’ll probably win Best New Director

Best New Director, the nominees are:
□ Emma DANTE – Via Castellana Bandiera
□ Fabio GRASSADONIA, Antonio PIAZZA – Salvo (should win)
□ Fabio MOLLO – Il Sud è Niente
□ PIF (Pierfrancesco DILIBERTO) – La mafia uccide solo d’estate (will win)
□ Sebastiano RISO – Più Buio di Mezzanotte
□ Sydney SIBILIA – Smetto Quando Voglio

Though PIF will probably get it for La Mafia Uccide Solo D’Estate, I would choose Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza for Salvo. La Mafia Uccide Solo D’Estate is a fun movie and very popular, but Salvo is one of my favorites of the year.

Best Comedy, the nominations are:
□ LA MOSSA DEL PINGUINO – di Claudio AMENDOLA
□ SMETTO QUANDO VOGLIO – di Sydney SIBILIA
□ SONG’E NAPULE – dei MANETTI BROS.
□ SOTTO UNA BUONA STELLA – di Carlo VERDONE
□ TUTTA COLPA DI FREUD – di Paolo GENOVESE

I think this is Verdone’s year, making the wise choice to put the adorable Paola Cortellesi in his film.

Are there more awards in store for Alice Rohrwacher?

Best Screenwriting, the nominees are:
□ Daniele LUCHETTI, Sandro PETRAGLIA, Stefano RULLI e Caterina VENTURINI – Anni Felici
□ Nicola LUSUARDI, Marco Simon PUCCIONI, Heidrun SCHLEEF – Come il Vento
□ Paolo VIRZI’, Francesco BRUNI, Francesco PICCOLO – Il Capitale Umano
□ Asia ARGENTO, Barbara ALBERTI – Incompresa
□ Alice ROHRWACHER – Le Meraviglie

I think I would rather drink poison than have to decide the best screenwriter.

il-capitale-umano-fabrizio-gifuni-e-fabrizio-bentivoglio-in-una-scena-294430 — Fabrizio BENTIVOGLIO

Best Actor, the nominees are:
□ Fabrizio BENTIVOGLIO, Fabrizio GIFUNI – Il Capitale Umano
□ Elio GERMANO – L’Ultima Ruota Del Carro
□ Edoardo LEO – La Mossa del Pinguino, Smetto Quando Voglio, Ti Ricordi di Me?
□ Giampaolo MORELLI, Alessandro ROJA – Song’e Napule
□ Kim ROSSI STUART – Anni Felici

Fabrizio’s got this one in the bag, but Kim Rossi Stuart was fantastic.

Best Actress, the nominees are:
□ Valeria BRUNI TEDESCHI – Il Capitale Umano
□ Celeste CASCIARO – In Grazia di Dio
□ Paola CORTELLESI – Sotto Una Buona Stella
□ Valeria GOLINO – Come il Vento
□ Kasia SMUTNIAK – Allacciate le Cinture

As happy as I’d be to see Paola win this one, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi’s a sure thing.

Filippo Timi with Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Un Castello In Italia

Best Supporting Actor, the nominees are:
□ Carlo BUCCIROSSO, Paolo SASSANELLI – Song’e’Napule
□ Alessandro HABER – L’ultima Ruota del Carro
□ Ricky MEMPHIS – La Mossa del Pinguino
□ Giorgio PASOTTI – Sapore di te, Nottetempo, Un Matrimonio da Favola
□ Filippo TIMI – Un Castello in Italia

It would be a crime to give it to anyone but Timi.

Best Supporting Actress, the nominees are:
□ Cristiana CAPOTONDI – La Mafia Uccide Solo D’estate
□ Claudia GERINI – Maldamore, Tutta Colpa di Freud
□ Giuliana LOJODICE, Claudia POTENZA – Una Piccola Impresa Meridionale
□ Paola MINACCIONI – Allacciate le Cinture
□ Micaela RAMAZZOTTI – Più Buio di Mezzanotte

I have no idea WHATSOEVER why Micaela Ramazzotti was overlooked for Anni Felice, so let’s give her the award for this one.

Best Cinematography, the nominees are:
□ Daniele CIPRI’ – Salvo
□ Gianfilippo CORTICELLI – Allacciate le Cinture
□ Michele D’ATTANASIO – In Grazia di Dio
□ Gherardo GOSSI – Come il Vento, Via Castellana Bandiera
□ Marco PONTECORVO – Gigolò Per Caso

Daniele Ciprì + Salvo = *ding ding ding* we have a winner.

Best Set Design, the nominees are:
□ Giancarlo BASILI – – Anni Felici, L’Intrepido
□ Marco DENTICI – Salvo
□ Eugenia F. DI NAPOLI – Incompresa
□ Mauro RADAELLI – Il Capitale Umano
□ Tonino ZERA – Sotto una Buona Stella

I believe that Asia Argento will win something, so let’s say it’s this one.