Oscar-winning Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore has teamed up with the Artemis Rising Foundation to produce Brunello: A Gracious Visionary, a documentary film about Italian fashion designer Brunello Cucinelli known as the King of Cashmere, which will win the Golden Globe Award for Best Documentary at the upcoming Taormina Film Festival.
Tornatore will receive the award at Taormina’s large open-air ancient Greek amphitheater in the shadow of the active volcano Mount Etna in Sicily. The resort’s prestigious festival, known to U.S. audiences as the filming location for Season 2 of “The White Lotus,” has been relaunched by marketing guru and festival specialist Tiziana Rocca.
In addition to 1990’s Oscar-winning Cinema Paradiso, Tornatore recently directed the art world thriller The Best Offer, co-starring Donald Sutherland. “Correspondence” with Olga Kurylenko and Jeremy Irons in 2016. And in 2022, Ennio, directed by Ennio Morricone, became a hit.
The 2025 documentary Brunello: The Elegant Visionary chronicles Cucinelli’s rise from farmer’s son to creative director and executive chairman of a global luxury lifestyle brand with a market capitalization of more than $7.8 billion. The film, which combines documentary and re-enactment elements, was shot in Umbria. The piece depicts a key moment in Cucinelli’s career, demonstrating his passion for Italian craftsmanship and his commitment to a concept he calls “humanitarian capitalism,” in which every stitch in the garments his company makes is made in Italy, mostly in his hometown. Mr. Cucinelli also ensures that factory workers are paid a fair wage and feel like family. He completely renovated the Italian village of Solomeo, where his headquarters are located.
The Golden Globe Documentary Award, in partnership with the Artemis Rising Foundation, “recognizes documentary filmmakers whose work demonstrates exceptional creative value and the potential to inspire positive social change,” according to a statement.
“I am very happy and honored that an international award as important and prestigious as the Golden Globes has chosen Taormina for this special occasion,” Rocca said in a statement.
“It is a matter of great pride for us to award such an important award to a master of cinema like Giuseppe Tornatore and confirms the central role of our festival in the international film world,” she added.
“We are proud to partner with the Taormina Film Festival and the Artemis Rising Foundation to recognize Giuseppe Tornatore, a filmmaker who has had a profound impact on audiences around the world,” Helen Hohne, director of the Golden Globe Awards, said in a statement. “The Gracious Visionary” reflects his continued dedication to visually compelling and deeply human storytelling. We are proud to celebrate his contribution to documentary filmmaking at this year’s festival,” she added.
“What a thrill to uplift the art and craft of Giuseppe Tornatore,” said Regina K. Scully, founder and CEO of the Artemis Rising Foundation. “His signature ‘Cinema Paradiso’ and pioneering Dolce & Gabbana short films starring Sophia Loren have left a mark on generations and captured the essence of Italian tradition and beauty for audiences around the world.”
The 72nd Taormina will be held from June 10th to 14th. As previously announced, Jane Campion will chair the jury and Helen Mirren will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Russell Crowe is scheduled to attend the release of his latest film, “Bear Country.”
The festival lineup will be announced in early June.
Provided by: Twenty Nine Palms Entertainment
