by FilmInk Staff
The Taormina Film Festival, set to take place June 10 – 14, 2026, at the historic Ancient Theatre of Taormina in Sicily, will spotlight the film centered on the life of Brunello Cucinelli
The Taormina Film Festival, in partnership with the Golden Globes and Artemis Rising Foundation, today announced that Oscar and Golden Globe-winning director Giuseppe Tornatore will be honored with the Golden Globes Prize for Documentary in Partnership with Artemis Rising Foundation for his documentary film Brunello: The Gracious Visionary, centered on the life of entrepreneur Brunello Cucinelli, at the 72nd Taormina Film Festival.
The award ceremony will take place in the unique setting of the Ancient Theatre of Taormina, marking a moment of extraordinary cultural and international significance for the Festival. The Golden Globes Prize for Documentary in Partnership with Artemis Rising Foundation is a distinguished honor within the global film industry. Presented by the Artemis Rising Foundation, it recognizes a documentary filmmaker whose work demonstrates exceptional creative merit and the potential to inspire positive social change.
“We are delighted and deeply honored that an international award as important and prestigious as the Golden Globes has chosen Taormina for this special occasion,” said Tiziana Rocca, artistic director of the Taormina Film Festival. “Hosting the presentation of such a significant award to a master of cinema like Giuseppe Tornatore is a source of great pride for us and confirms our Festival’s central role in the international film scene.”
“We are honored to partner with the Taormina Film Festival and Artemis Rising Foundation to recognize Giuseppe Tornatore, a filmmaker whose work has had a profound impact on audiences around the world,” said Helen Hoehne, President of the Golden Globes. “Brunello: The Gracious Visionary reflects his continued dedication to storytelling that is both visually compelling and deeply human. We are proud to celebrate his contributions to documentary filmmaking at this year’s festival.”
“What a thrill it is to lift up the art and craft of Giuseppe Tornatore. His signature Cinema Paradiso and pioneering Dolce & Gabbana short films starring Sofia Loren have left a generational imprint, capturing the essence of Italian heritage and beauty for audiences around the world,” said Regina K. Scully, founder and CEO of Artemis Rising Foundation. “We are proud to recognize his documentary of another Italian design legend: Brunello Cucinelli.”
One of the most internationally celebrated directors and screenwriters, Giuseppe Tornatore won an Oscar for Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (1988) and is the creator of films acclaimed for their visual elegance and emotional power, such as Malèna (2000), Baarìa (2009), and The Best Offer (2013). The awarding of this prize further underscores the value of his work and his fundamental contribution to contemporary cinema. With Brunello: The Gracious Visionary, Tornatore crafts an intense and refined portrait that seamlessly blends narrative sensitivity with human depth, reaffirming his status as one of the most authoritative and recognizable voices in world cinema.
The documentary film Brunello: The Gracious Visionary (2026) chronicles the life of Brunello Cucinelli, a humanist entrepreneur who has united work and philosophy. Blending documentary and fiction, the film retraces the key places and moments of Cucinelli’s life story, through testimonies, archival footage, and personal memories. A work that delicately explores the value of beauty, ethics, and dreams.
The Taormina Film Festival is organised by Fondazione Taormina Arte Sicilia, directly promoted by Assessorato del Turismo, dello Sport e dello Spettacolo of the Sicilian Region, with the support of the Ministry of Culture – Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual Affairs, and under the patronage of the Ministry of Tourism.
