The 64th Thessaloniki Film Festival bestowed the honorary Golden Alexander to the iconic Italian movie star Monica Bellucci, for her overall contribution to the art of cinema. “I am honored to be the recipient of this award and I’m especially moved to be here, in Greece,” she stated upon receiving the honorary award from the Governor of Central Macedonia Region, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, at a special event held on Thursday evening, November 9th, at the packed Olympion theater.
The event, taking place before the screening of Malèna, the film that made Monica Bellucci stand out, was kicked off by the artistic director of the Festival, Orestis Andreadakis. "Today, the Thessaloniki Film Festival honors a great actress, who has held a prominent place in world cinema for 30 years. Beginning with the films of her homeland, Italy, she quickly rose to fame, performing roles in both English and French, in films such as Francis Ford Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula, L’appartement, Under Suspicion, Le pacte des loups, Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra and of course Giuseppe Tornatore's iconic Malèna, which is to be screened shortly. In this exemplar of period cinema, which unravels the darkest aspects of European history, Monica Bellucci delivers a monumental performance, forging a fearless, multi-layered female character. This was followed by one of the best films in recent years, Gaspar Noé’s Irréversible, The Matrix, Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, Spectre alongside James Bond, the magnificent Le meraviglie, Emir Kusturica's On the Milky Road, and so much more," Orestis Andreadakis said.
Next, the artistic director of the Festival referred to her latest film, Maria Callas: Letters and Memoirs, based on the theatrical production of the same name, which was screened on Wednesday, November 8th at the Olympion theater, in the presence of the actress, and later invited on stage the Governor of Central Macedonia Region, Apostolos Tzitzikostas.
“Buona sera gentile signora Bellucci. Grazie per essere venuti a Salonicco per riempire di luce il Festival e la nostra città,” Mr Tzitzikostas greeted Monica Bellucci in Italian. "It is indeed a great honor to welcome one of the most important actresses of the 7th Art here in Thessaloniki and at our Film Festival," he remarked. Apostolos Tzitzikostas went on to say, "Monica Bellucci is one of those actresses who when they appear on the big screen fill it entirely, and alter the very tone of the cinematic frames. She has created dozens of characters in comedies, dramas, adventures, historical films. And each time she manages to transform herself, getting to the essence of her roles and highlighting their details. With these films she has travelled all over the world. We hope that an opportunity will soon be found for her to make a film here in Thessaloniki, in Central Macedonia, which has the infrastructure, exceptional locations, rare sites, historical monuments, forests, mountains and sea and, as film experts say, a unique and ideal cinematic light. Over the years, Monica Bellucci has given her own light to films that will remain forever in our collective memory. And for me, it is an extraordinary pleasure and honor to welcome her here today."
At this point, the lights were dimmed in order to showcase, in a short video, the different characters the famous actress has portrayed through her most iconic roles in cinema. Immediately afterwards, Orestis Andreadakis invited Monica Belucci to the stage, where she was presented with the Golden Alexander Award. "Ms. Belucci, on behalf of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, I bestow you the Honorary Golden Alexander Award," said Mr. Tzitzikostas, handing her the award.
"Thank you very much, thank you to the amazing Thessaloniki Film Festival. I am honored to receive this award and I am very moved to be here, in Greece. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the immense artist Maria Callas and to her beautiful homeland, which I hold deep in my heart," the actress remarked amidst a round of applause, wrapping up her speech by saying "thank you very much" in Greek.
The event concluded with the screening of Giuseppe Tornatore's film Malèna, both a poignant coming-of-age story and a mural of a painful historical period, featuring Monica Bellucci in a multifaceted role that has earned a distinct place in world cinema.
