Photo: Robert De Niro and Leslie Mann
ACCORDING TO THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER:
CAPRI, Italy, November 30, 2016 – The European premiere of Cinelou’s highly anticipated comedy-drama “The Comedian,” starring Robert De Niro as a standup comic who can’t shake his best known and, often, most mainstream character, will take place here on December 27th at the Cinema Paradiso in Anacapri, officially launching the 21st edition of Capri, Hollywood – The International Film Festival, which runs through January 2, 2017.
Directed by Taylor Hackford (‘An Officer and a Gentleman,’ ‘Ray’), ‘The Comedian’ also stars Leslie Mann, Danny DeVito (as De Niro’s brother), Edie Falco, Veronica Ferres, Charles Grodin, Cloris Leachman, Pati LuPone and Harvey Keitel and features a cameo by Billy Crystal. The Cinelou Films production was written by Art Linson, Jeff Ross, Richard LaGravenese and Lewis Friedman, with Cinelou’s Mark Canton and Courtney Solomon, producing alongside Linson, John Linson and Hackford.
The film had its world premiere at the AFI Fest in New York City on November 11, 2016, and goes into limited release on December 2nd before opening wide on January 13, 2017. It is distributed in America by Sony Pictures Classics and throughout the rest of the world by Warner Bros. Pictures.
“We thank producers Mark Canton and Courtney Solomon, director Taylor Hackford and Warner Bros. Pictures, who have always been great friends and supporters of Capri, Hollywood, for granting us this exclusive premiere,” said Festival founder and producer Pascal Vicedomini. “This is a true Christmas gift for all the cinema enthusiasts who will join us on the Blue Island to enjoy a variety of high profile movies that are in the running for major year-end awards.”
“Making this movie was a dream come true, because this is De Niro in a really vivid, bucket-list role that is not only compellingly funny but also really emotionally connected,” said Canton. “Bob, Leslie, Taylor, Courtney and I are honored that it has been selected to open this important international film festival.”
“Thanks to an exciting and fresh on-screen dynamic created by Taylor Hackford, Bob, Leslie and our cast of other great actors give the film that extra heartbeat that makes it special, and audiences seem to agree,” Solomon added. “We are looking forward to its European debut at Capri, Hollywood.”
Capri, Hollywood 2016 will be presided over by Barry Morrow (Oscar-winner for the screenplay of “Rain Man”) and by Israeli singer Noa. This year the Festival will revolve around the theme of “Mercy” and will include such special guests as director Gianfranco Rosi, whose “Fuocoammare” (Italy’s Best Foreign Language Film entry in the Oscar’s) will be recognized as ‘Best European Film’ and ‘Best Documentary of the Year’; British filmmaker Stephen Frears, who is 2016’s ‘European Director’ for “Florence Foster Jenkins”; Israeli Amos Gitai, who will receive the “Capri Award” for his Lifetime Achievements; and Bill Mechanic, who has been named ‘Producer of the Year’ for Mel Gibson’s “Hacksaw Ridge”.
The 21st edition of Capri, Hollywood is supported by MIBACT (D.G. Cinema), and the Campania Region in collaboration with the City of Capri and the Municipality of Anacapri, as well as a number of private sponsors.
ACCORDING TO ANSA: