Spike Lee, Antonio Banderas Celebrate Mutual Legacy at Torino Film Festival/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Spike Lee and Antonio Banderas honored each other with lifetime achievement awards at the Torino Film Festival’s opening night. The 43rd edition of the festival celebrated cinema legends and launched a Paul Newman retrospective with a musical tribute. Running through Nov. 29, the festival will feature over 100 films, world premieres, and appearances by international stars.
Quick Look:
- Spike Lee and Antonio Banderas honored with lifetime achievement awards
- Opening ceremony centerpiece of the 43rd Torino Film Festival
- Emotional speeches and playful moments between the two icons
- Tributes to Paul Newman, plus 104 films screened across 9 days
Deep Look
A Grand Opening for Italy’s Premier Film Celebration
The 43rd Torino Film Festival kicked off with a night of admiration, legacy, and cinematic nostalgia as two global icons—American director Spike Lee and Spanish actor Antonio Banderas—paid tribute to each other in a heartfelt moment of mutual recognition.
In a gesture that captured the evening’s spirit of camaraderie, Lee and Banderas each knelt on stage to present the other with the festival’s highest honor: the Stella della Mole. This prestigious trophy is modeled after the 12-pointed star that tops Turin’s National Cinema Museum, a symbol of Italian cinema history.
They were among 12 distinguished figures recognized for lifetime achievement during the opening ceremony at the historic Teatro Regio, where hundreds of film enthusiasts and industry leaders gathered to launch the festival.
Antonio Banderas: “Theater Is Still My Home”
Accepting his award, Antonio Banderas addressed the audience in fluent Italian, reflecting on his roots and the enduring power of the stage.
“This story began in the theater, and now I’m finding my way back,” Banderas said. “I continue to make films, of course, but the theater remains a marvelous club—my home. In a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence, the theater reminds us of natural intelligence.”
Banderas’s eloquence set a reflective tone for the night, highlighting the timeless appeal of live performance in the face of an evolving entertainment landscape.
Spike Lee: From Indie Hustler to Cultural Icon
Spike Lee, ever candid and charismatic, recalled his humble beginnings and the resourcefulness that launched his career.
“I was only in She’s Gotta Have It because we had no budget—I couldn’t afford to pay actors,” Lee joked, drawing laughs from the audience. “Now, I have a budget.”
Lee’s rise from indie filmmaker to cultural force was recognized with standing ovations, underscoring his continued influence in both American cinema and global culture.
A Night of Legends: Other Honorees
Lee and Banderas were joined by a remarkable lineup of film icons who also received the Stella della Mole, including:
- Claude Lelouch (French filmmaker)
- Alexander Sokurov (Russian director)
- Jacqueline Bisset (British actress)
- Daniel Brühl (German-Spanish actor)
- Hanna Schygulla (German actress)
The ceremony set the tone for a festival dedicated not just to premieres, but to intergenerational dialogue, artistic retrospectives, and the enduring magic of cinema.
Artistic Vision: A Festival Rooted in Discovery
Festival artistic director Giulio Base shared his vision for the 2025 edition, emphasizing a commitment to cinematic exploration:
“We’re looking to foster conversations between generations. I want Torino to be a place to discover new voices, revisit the masters, and fall in love with cinema all over again—free from distractions, in the shared light of the screen.”
A Tribute to Paul Newman: 24-Film Retrospective
Opening night also featured a moving musical tribute to Paul Newman, whose work will be honored through a 24-film retrospective during the festival.
A local youth choir of over 70 performers sang “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, as a slideshow of Newman’s most memorable roles played onscreen.
The tribute concluded with a heartfelt video message from Clea Newman, who continues to preserve her father’s legacy.
What to Expect This Year
Running from November 21–29, the 2025 Torino Film Festival features a robust and diverse program:
- 104 feature films and 16 shorts
- 23 world premieres and 11 international debuts
- Retrospectives and restored classics
- Appearances by:
- Jason Biggs
- Dominique Sanda
- James Franco
- Dolph Lundgren
- Vanessa Redgrave
- Terry Gilliam
- Juliette Binoche
- Alejandro Amenábar
- Mascha Schilinski
With screenings taking place throughout cinemas across the city, the Torino Film Festival promises both spectacle and substance, balancing red carpet moments with deeper discussions on the evolution of global cinema.
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