Martin Scorsese accepts honorary presidency of Italy's David di Donatello film awards

Nomination and acceptance

American filmmaker Martin Scorsese has agreed to take on the role of honorary president of the Accademia del Cinema Italiano, the institution that organises Italy's annual David di Donatello Awards. The proposal was made by Italian Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli in coordination with the foundation's founding members and its president, Silvia Calandrelli. The 83-year-old director formally accepted the post in a letter sent to the Italian culture ministry on 25 August 2026. The board of directors of the Fondazione Accademia del Cinema Italiano will meet in a formal session to vote on and ratify the appointment. Italian authorities confirmed that the board's vote represents the final statutory step required to confirm the role.

Statement and Italian roots

In his formal reply to the ministry, Scorsese, whose family roots trace to Sicily, noted that Italian cinematic traditions have guided his work throughout his career. His filmography includes American titles such as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Gangs of New York, and The Wolf of Wall Street. Scorsese previously addressed his personal ties to post-war Italian cinema in his four-hour 1999 documentary Il mio viaggio in Italia, where he discussed growing up in New York watching neorealist classics like Sciuscia and Paisa. Minister Giuli emphasized that Scorsese's acceptance acknowledges both Italian cinema and the land of his ancestors.

Italian cinema has been a constant source of inspiration throughout my life. The films, authors, and artistic traditions born in Italy have profoundly shaped both my conception of cinema and my work. Being connected, in this capacity, to the Academy and the David di Donatello Awards has a particularly important meaning for me. I will be honored to support the Academy's commitment to the international promotion of Italian cinema and film culture, and to contribute to its cultural initiatives and activities.

Governance changes at the Academy

The honorary appointment aligns with an administrative restructuring across the leadership of the David di Donatello Foundation. The management changes began earlier with the naming of Silvia Calandrelli as president and Gian Luca Farinelli as artistic director. Farinelli is the founder and director of the Cineteca di Bologna and leads the Il Cinema Ritrovato festival, which focuses on film restoration and archival classics. He partially succeeds film journalist Piera Detassis, who in 2018 became the first woman to lead the academy and held a joint mandate as both president and artistic director until her term expired. The foundation confirmed that the governance overhaul will conclude once members are appointed to the new Artistic Steering Committee.

Role of the David di Donatello Awards

The David di Donatello Awards serve as Italy's national film honours, functioning as the country's equivalent to the Academy Awards. First presented in 1956, the ceremony distributes prizes across various filmmaking disciplines, ranging from acting and directing to cinematography, editing, and costume design. Recipients receive a miniature replica of the David sculpture created by Renaissance artist Donatello around the year 1440. Under his honorary mandate, Scorsese will collaborate with the academy to support international promotional campaigns and back educational initiatives focused on Italian film culture.