David di Donatello Awards – May 7, 2025, Rome, Italy

The prestigious David di Donatello Awards, often referred to as the Italian equivalent of the Academy Awards, will celebrate their 70th edition on May 7, 2025. Established in 1956 by the Accademia del Cinema Italiano, these awards have long represented the pinnacle of recognition for excellence in Italian and international cinema.

The official nominations for the 70th edition of the David di Donatello Awards were announced during a press conference held in the Federico Fellini Room at Cinecittà Studios. The event was attended by notable figures including Williams Di Liberatore (Director of Prime Time Entertainment at Rai), Piera Detassis (President and Artistic Director of the Italian Cinema Academy – David di Donatello Awards), Chiara Sbarigia (President of Cinecittà S.p.A.), Manuela Cacciamani (CEO of Cinecittà S.p.A.), Giovanni Anversa (Deputy Director of Prime Time Entertainment at Rai), and Lucia Borgonzoni (Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture). The awards ceremony will be broadcast live from Cinecittà Studios on Wednesday, May 7, in prime time on Rai Uno.

This year’s competition has been particularly noteworthy with several films receiving multiple nominations.

“Berlinguer – La grande ambizione”  and “Parthenope” have led the pack with 15 nominations each. Close behind are the Sky Original series “L’arte della gioia” and “Vermiglio” directed by Maura Delpero, each receiving 14 nominations. In a significant achievement for female filmmakers, three directors – Francesca Comencini, Valeria Golino, and Maura Delpero – have been nominated in the Best Director category, while Margherita Vicario has been nominated for Best Debut Director. The David degli Spettatori (Audience Award) has been given to “Diamanti” by Ferzan Ozpetek.

Other notable Italian contenders include “Le déluge – Gli ultimi giorni di Maria Antonietta,” “Il ragazzo dai pantaloni rosa,” and “Gloria!” These films represent the rich diversity and artistic vision of contemporary Italian cinema.

The documentary category features important works including “Duse – The Greatest” and “Il cassetto segreto,” both presented by Luce Cinecittà. In total, 15 titles are competing for the prestigious Premio Cecilia Mangini, an award named after the pioneering female documentary filmmaker who was the first Italian woman documentarian in the post-war period. This year also marks the introduction of the “Cinecittà David 70” award, designed to recognize Italian excellence in professionals who have worked at the historic studios on Via Tuscolana.

In the Best Short Film category, the five finalists include “La confessione” by Nicola Sorcinelli. The winner will be announced live on Rai 1 during the ceremony and will have the opportunity to compete for an Academy Award nomination in 2026.

The 2025 ceremony will also feature an impressive lineup of international films competing for the coveted Best Foreign Film award. Out of 288 international titles distributed in Italian theaters during 2024, several notable productions have been shortlisted for consideration:

• “200% Wolf” (Australia) directed by Alexs Stadermann
• “You Hurt My Feelings” (USA) directed by Nicole Holofcener
• “A Quiet Place: Day One” (USA) directed by Michael Sarnoski
• “A Spasso con Willy” (France) directed by Eric Tosti
• “Never Let Go” (USA) directed by Alexandre Aja
• “Abigail” (USA) directed by Matti Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett
• “Acid” (France) directed by Just Philippot

This diverse selection showcases a wide range of genres and cinematic approaches from established and emerging filmmakers across the globe.

Films competing for the Best Foreign Film category must have been distributed in Italian theaters between January 1 and December 31, 2024. The rigorous selection process involves the Accademia’s jury evaluating each entry based on artistic merit, technical excellence, and cultural significance. For Italian productions, the awards recognize excellence across multiple categories including directing, acting, screenplay, cinematography, and technical achievements, reflecting the comprehensive nature of filmmaking.

The award ceremony on May 7 will bring together Italy’s film industry elite along with international guests at a gala event celebrating the year’s cinematic achievements. The event will be broadcast live on Rai 1, allowing viewers across Italy to participate in this celebration of cinematic excellence. Industry observers note that the 2025 edition comes at a particularly dynamic time for Italian cinema, with increasing international co-productions and streaming platform investments expanding the reach of Italian filmmaking talent globally. The complete list of nominees across all categories is available on the official David di Donatello website.