A legend of the international cinematography, famous actress Sophia Loren will come for the first time in Romania next week as a special guest of the Transylvania International Film Festival (TIFF).

The Italian diva will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award during the festival’s closing gala scheduled to take place on June 4 at the National Theater in Cluj-Napoca, the organizer announced.

On June 3, 18:30, the actress will attend a special screening in her honor, organized at the Students Culture House.

“It is as an honor to have her at TIFF and, I hope, a joy for Cluj-Napoca's residents to meet her during her first visit in Romania. She joins a series of other famous personalities celebrated at TIFF in the past 15 years, such as Claudia Cardinale, Annie Girardot, Vanessa Redgrave, Catherine Deneuve, and Geraldine Chaplin,” said TIFF president Tudor Giurgiu.

Sophia Loren, 81, has played in about 100 films during her acting career, working with great directors such as Vittorio de Sica, George Cukor, Charlie Chaplin, Mario Monicelli, Ettore Scola, and Robert Altman.

She started her career in 1950, when she was only 15 years old. Her first important role was in DeSica’s L’Oro di Napoli (1954). She has starred in many other films, which brought her several Golden Globes, the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille Award, a BAFTA award, and six David di Donatello awards for best actress. In 1991, the American Film Academy offered her a honorary lifetime achievement award, and eight years later, in 1999, the American Film Institute recognized her as one of the greatest legends of Hollywood’s golden age.

Moreover, famous musicians Mick Jagger and Keith Richards dedicated a song to the Italian actress, called Pass the Wine (Sophia Loren).

Founded in 2002, TIFF has grown up to be one of the biggest events of this kind in Romania. This year’s edition of the event will take place between May 27 and June 5, in Cluj-Napoca. Find out more here.

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Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Tiff.ro)