Guests of Honor 2026
BRUNO COULAIS
An international award-winning film composer
Bruno Coulais is a French composer. Originally trained in classical music with a focus on the violin and piano, he initially intended to pursue a career as a concert composer. However, he soon turned to film scoring, where he developed a highly distinctive voice that blends traditional orchestral writing with experimental textures, vocal elements, and influences from world music.
Bruno Coulais gained early recognition in French cinema during the 1980s and 1990s, but achieved international acclaim with his score for Microcosmos, a nature documentary celebrated for its innovative use of sound and music. He later reached a global audience with Les Choristes (The Chorus), whose choral-based score became widely popular, and with the animated film Coraline, where his eerie, imaginative music played a key role in shaping the film’s atmosphere.
Known for his ability to create immersive sonic landscapes, Bruno Coulais often experiments with unconventional instruments, children’s choirs, and non-Western musical traditions. His work spans a wide range of genres, from documentaries and historical dramas to animation and fantasy. Over the course of his career, he has received numerous accolades, including multiple César Awards for Best Music, and is regarded as one of the most original and influential film composers in contemporary European cinema.
CHARLES FOX
A legendary composer and lyricist
Charles Fox (born October 30, 1940, in New York City) is an American composer and lyricist renowned for his influential contributions to film, television, and popular music. He studied at Harvard University before continuing his musical training in Paris under the famed pedagogue Nadia Boulanger, whose students included many of the 20th century’s leading composers.
Fox rose to prominence in the 1970s through his work in television, composing memorable and widely recognized themes for hit series such as Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, and Love, American Style. His music became a defining part of American TV culture, noted for its catchy melodies and emotional resonance. Beyond television, he also composed scores for films and television movies, showcasing versatility across genres.
One of his most enduring achievements is co-writing the song “Killing Me Softly with His Song” with lyricist Norman Gimbel. The song became a global hit when performed by Roberta Flack, earning a Grammy Award and later being successfully reinterpreted by other artists. Fox’s ability to craft memorable melodies has made his work widely covered and appreciated across generations.
Throughout his career, Charles Fox has received numerous honors, including Grammy and Emmy Awards, recognizing both his songwriting and his contributions to television music. His work remains a significant part of American entertainment history, reflecting a talent for blending popular appeal with strong musical craftsmanship.
JEAN MICHEL BERNARD
A renowned film composer and piano player
Jean-Michel Bernard began playing the piano at the age of 2. At 14, he won his first prizes at the conservatory, and at 19, he earned his concert performer’s degree from the École Normale de Musique de Paris.
That same year, he recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London. With a classical background and jazz influences, Jean-Michel Bernard began working in the film industry with Lalo Schifrin and Ennio Morricone, as well as Martin Scorsese, Michel Gondry, Claude Chabrol, and Fanny Ardant…
Alongside his work in film, Jean-Michel Bernard served as musical director and pianist-organist for the Ray Charles Quintet from 2000 to 2003 and collaborated with the Australian group The Avalanches in 2017. His piano recitals blend classical, jazz, and film music; he has performed at the Krakow Film Music Festival, the Blue Note Jazz Festival in Tokyo, as well as in Paris, Halle, Athens, and Croatia… In 2018, Jean-Michel Bernard recorded a collection of Lalo Schifrin’s greatest film scores, followed by Jerry Goldsmith’s in 2022. That same year, he signed with Sony Masterworks for three piano albums titled Piano Cinema, which have amassed over 4 million streams to date. Jean-Michel Bernard is a Steinway Artist and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Upcoming album to be released by Sony Masterworks in spring 2026: “The New Bossa Nova Groove Experience” and new film music for Valérie Donzelli’s “À pied d’œuvre,” winner of an award at the 2025 Venice Film Festival.
ROBERTA D’ANGELO
International music editor
Roberta has always been passionate about music and sound since her high school years, during which she played guitar in various local bands in her hometown.
After earning a degree in Visual Arts from IUAV in Venice, she moved to Rome in 2012 and began working in the field of sound for visual media. During the same years, she completed an internship at Galaxy Studios in Belgium.
She later embarked on a career as music editor, collaborating over the years with various musicians, including Pasquale Catalano, Michele Braga, Stefano Bollani, Santi Pulvirenti, and Mokadelic. In 2018-19, she spent some time in London, working on international projects such as The Kid Who Would Be King (2018) by Joe Cornish, with music by EWB (Damon Albarn and his crew), and Rebecca (2020) by Ben Wheatley, with music by Clint Mansell.
More recent titles include We Are Who We Are (2020), an HBO series by Luca Guadagnino, the film Beckett (2021) by Ferdinando Cito Filomarino, featuring music by Ryuichi Sakamoto, Bang Bang Baby (2022), and Challengers (2024), Queer (2025), After the Hunt (2025) by Luca Guadagnino, with music by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross and Without Blood (2025) a film by Angelina Jolie with music by Rutger Hoedemaekers.
Alongside her work in film and television, she also pursues projects in podcasting and electronic music with Eiga.
ANDREA GUERRA
An International film composer
Andrea Guerra is an Italian composer and pianist, born on October 21, 1961, in Santarcangelo di Romagna, Italy. He is best known for his work in film music, creating evocative and emotionally rich scores for both Italian and international cinema.
Guerra studied composition and orchestration in Italy and began his career working in theater and television before moving into film. He gained widespread recognition through collaborations with prominent directors such as Ferzan Özpetek and Gabriele Muccino. His music often blends classical influences with contemporary sounds, contributing to the emotional depth of the films he scores.
Among his most notable works are the soundtracks for films like The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), Letters to Juliet (2010), and Life, Above All (2010). His compositions have earned him several awards and nominations, including the David di Donatello, one of Italy’s most prestigious film honors.
Andrea Guerra is also the son of celebrated poet and screenwriter Tonino Guerra, which influenced his artistic development.
NICOLA TESCARI
A Grammy nominated Film composer
By way of a full bright scholarship offered by New England Conservatory, pianist Nicola moved from Milan, Italy to the States where he obtained a double master degree in composition and orchestral conducting.
He spent 4 years studying under the wings of various conductors and composers (including Luciano Berio, György Ligeti, Lee Hyla, John Adams, Joe Maneri) before finally choosing to return to Europe and consecrating himself to composition.
He has worked with directors such as Academy Award Nominee Cristina Comencini, Cannes Film Festival winner Carlos Saura and Valeria Golino, Guido Chiesa, Michele
Rho, Laura Morante, Fausto Paravidino, Ago Panini, Emma Luchini and Alessandro Baricco. As a pianist Nicola has accompanied artists such as Madonna, Sting and Rufus Wainwright, and shared the stage with classical greats such as Katia and Marielle Labèque and violin soloist Viktoria Mullova.
In 2012 he received a Grammy Nomination for his orchestral arrangement of Sting’s ‘Moon Over Bourbon Street’. Alongside film scoring, Nicola has also produced and collaborated with various pop artists including Mirwais, Lester Bowie, Marc Collin, Raphael Gualazzi, Nadeah, Meg and Caparezza. He also teaches film scoring bi-annually at Alessandro Baricco’s Holden School in Torino, Italy and currently resides in Paris.
GEORGE CHRISTOPOULOS
Fouder of Oticons Film Music Composers Agency
George Christopoulos, a lifelong film music enthusiast, pivoted his career in 2009 from multimedia event creative director after renowned Japanese composer Shigeru Umebayashi - known for In the Mood for Love, 2046, and House of Flying Daggers— invited him to direct the composer's pioneering film music concert at Belgium's Gent Film Fest. This sparked the launch of OTICONS, a global talent agency championing
film composers, especially for independent cinema.
Today, OTICONS represents over 25 composers from 15+ nationalities, including luminaries like Shigeru Umebayashi, Yann Tiersen (Amélie, Goodbye Lenin!), Johnny Klimek (Matrix Resurrections, Cloud Atlas), Jean-Michel Bernard (The Science of Sleep, Be Kind Rewind), Tuomas Kantelinen (Mongol, Legend of Hercules), Miriam Cutler (RGB, A Plastic Ocean), and rising star Kid Moxie (Cyberpunk 2077, Orion
Pictures logo). The agency excels in consulting for international co-productions.
George fosters deep ties with top film festivals, delivering grants and work-in-progress consultations at events like Venice Film Festival, Red Sea International Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, and the Amman, Malta, and Athens International Film Festivals.
A dedicated educator since 2012, George lectures on music's role in film and the industry business at festivals, universities, and scoring academies worldwide. He mentors emerging and established composers through personalized 1-on-1 and group sessions, demystifying career navigation.
In 2014, he founded the OTICONS FACULTY International Film Music Competition - an annual online showcase drawing over 2,000 entrants from 46 countries, judged by 25 top professionals. It's now a cornerstone for spotting breakout talent in the global film music scene.
Since 2025, he has also been actively producing high-profile international feature films, series, and documentaries.
As a voting member of the European Film Academy and World Soundtrack Academy, George continues shaping the industry's future.
RAY COSTA
Ray Costa is the founder and president of Costa Communications
Costa Communications is the premier public relations, marketing and consulting firm representing composers and songwriters in visual media. Ray Costa along with Costa Communications has represented such high-profile composers ranging from multi-award winners Alan Menken and Marvin Hamlisch to contemporary composers Alexandre Desplat, Justin Hurwitz, Atticus Ross, Ludwig Goransson, Michael Abels, Robbie Robertson and Steven Price, and new discoveries including Junkie XL, Antonio Sanchez, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Simon Franglen and Kris Bowers.
Costa has been commissioned for Oscar campaigns for songwriters including Billie Eilish, FINNEAS, H.E.R., Drake, Travis Scott, Rhianna, Taylor Swift, Carole King, Beyoncé, Brian Wilson, Van Morrison, Kendrik Lamar, Pasek & Paul, Justin Temberlake, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Diane Warren, Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, and more. Costa Communications has been contracted directly for awards campaigns with virtually every major studio including Warner Bros, Apple, Sony, MGM/UAR, Amazon Studios, Disney, Netflix, The Weinstein Company, Dreamworks, Fox, Universal, IFC, and Paramount. The firm’s award campaigns have successfully yielded nominations and wins for Oscars®, Golden Globes, Grammys, Tonys, Emmys, BAFTAs and other prestigious accolades. For over 20 years, Costa Communications has been the official public relations firm of the Society Of Composers & Lyricists.
Ray Costa is a member of ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. He is a voting member of The Television Academy, The Recording Academy, and the Motion Picture Academy. He has advised leading publications regarding panels and concerts including The Hollywood Reporter/Billboard Film and TV Music Conference, Deadline Sound & Screen Concerts, and Variety Music for Screens. He is an advisor for the World Soundtrack Awards (Ghent, Belgium), The SCL Awards, The Golden Globes, the International Film Music Critics Association, the Transatlantyk Film and Music Festival (Lodj, Poland), Krakow Film Music Festival, and the Middleburg Film Festival (Middleburg, Virginia). Ray Costa is also a co-founder of the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, Fimucité (Tenerife), MOSMA (Malaga, Spain) and the Apulia Film Music Festival (Apulia, Italy). Costa Communications has represented pro-bono non-profits including Education Through Music – Los Angeles, the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, and Hollywood Heart.
SHARON FARBER
An international composer
Sharon Farber is a Grammy-winning and Emmy-nominated composer for film, television, and the concert stage. Other awards and nominations include the Society of Composers & Lyricists, Hollywood Music in Media, the World Soundtrack, The Visionary, ASCAP and more.
A graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Film scoring and Concert composition (dual major), She is known for her work with Amazon/MGM, Netflix, NBC, CBS, WB, Disney, Lifetime and more, with film scores that are both commercially released and widely performed.
Recent credits include Tyler Perry’s “From Italy With Love” (Amazon/MGM) and “Why did I Get Married Again” (Netflix). Other credits include “Jacob The Baker”, “October 8”, “Brainwashed” , “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” and others, which were released commercially. She is currently working on a project for Disney Imagineering.
Sharon is one of 9 female composers featured at Lincoln Center, at the historical “Women Warriors- Voices of Change” concert and GRAMMY winning album and she is also one of the few composers featured in the concert event celebrating female composers. The International Film Music Critics Association wrote about her piece: "Composer Sharon Farber wowed the crowd with a suite of music from three of her scores: "Children of the Fall", “When Nietzsche Wept" and "The Dove Flyer".
Sharon's UN-supported project “I’m Standing With You” in collaboration with legendary songwriter Diane Warren and Director Gev Miron, united artists worldwide.
In the concert world, Sharon has received commissions from the Los Angeles Master Chorale, The Juilliard School, the National Children’s Chorus, The Rockford Symphony and many others.
Sharon serves as a board member of ASCAP and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Television Academy, and the Recording Academy, As well as former VP of The Alliance for Women film Composers.
Guests of Honor 2025
ANNE DUDLEY
Academy winner Anne Dudley will receive a Career Achievement Award. Anne Dudley counts many soundtracks among them "The Crying game" or"Full Monty" which earn her an Academy Award. She also composed the recent Italian/British series "Signora Volpe" with Italian actor Giovani Cirfiera, who will be present for her award. Anne Dudley is also the composer and founder of the famous band "Art of Noise."
CARLO CRIVELLI
Another special Career achievement Award will be presented to Italian, Di Donatello Award composer Carlo Crivelli. During the Awards ceremony, a special tribute will feature his soundtrack “Sangue del Mio Sangue", "Vincere" or "Devil in Flesh." He received the Ennio Morricone Award for best composer of the film Sleeping Beauty by Marco Bellocchio. Crivelli also founded the Orchestra "Città Aperta" for the recording of soundtracks.
PAOLO LEPORE
Maestro Paolo Lepore (conductor of the Jazz Studio Orchestra in Bari). His big band orchestra will play and honor the James Bond composers and songwriters, among them John Barry, Henri Mancini, Paul McCartney. Before his amazing career as conductor, Maestro Lepore was Nino Rota's student at the Bari Conservatory.
FABRIZIO MANCINELLI
Fabrizio Mancinelli is a renowed composer and conductor, Academy member. He studied the Music Composition Program under the guidance of Academy Award winning composer Luis Bacalov (Il Postino). He composed for the film "Mushka", and for films like "Here After", and conducted the music for "Green Book."
GIULIANO TAVIANI & CARMELO TRAVIA
Film composers Giuliano Taviani and Carmelo Travia have work together on several movies like "Diamanti", "Red Istambul," or "Caesare must die." They worked on more than 60 movies.
SIMON GREENAWAY
Simon Greenaway is classicaly trained pianist. He works in UK with Brian Adams or The Lemonheads and later the band "Aurora". He co-composed the BBC series Bugs". He worked with legendary film composer Hans Zimmer to produce songs for the Muppets “Treasure Island” movie, then with David Arnold on the Bond movie “Tomorrow Never Dies”. Simon Greenaway now serves as ASCAP’s Vice president of Film & TV UK/Europe, securing deals with artists as Dua Lipa, Sigala, Coldplay and film composer (2024 ASA Award winner) Daniel Pemberton.
Guests of Honor 2024
DIANE WARREN
Diane Warren has written for such legends of song as Elton John, Tina Turner, Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack and Roy Orbison. Artists such as Lady Gaga, Cher, Patti LaBelle, 'N Sync, Gloria Estefan, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Reba McEntire, Beyonce, Whitney Houston, Enrique Iglesias, Aerosmith, Ricky Martin, Faith Hill, Celine Dion, Mary J. Blige and LeAnn Rimes have graced the charts with her songs. Warren herself agrees that she has tapped this universality of message in her songwriting.
Her number one Adult Contemporary hit "If You Asked Me To" has been recorded not only by Celine Dion, but also by R&B diva Patti LaBelle. Her song "Don't Turn Around" has been recorded by eight different artists - from Tina Turner to Aswad to Ace of Base. Her number one pop hit "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing" performed by Aerosmith for the movie Armageddon not only received an Oscar nomination, but simultaneously hit number one on the country charts with a version by Mark Chestnut. Additionally, Diane's song, “How Do I Live”, recorded by both Trisha Yearwood and LeAnn Rimes, was not only a #1 hit that won Yearwood the Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance, but also carries the distinction of being the longest running song in the history of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.
Diane’s songs are featured in more than 60 films. Her songs have been nominated for five Golden Globes, fifteen Academy Awards, one honorary Oscar in 2023, and 10 Grammys.
Warren has been named ASCAP Songwriter of the Year six times and Billboard’s Songwriter of the Year four times. Her publishing company Realsongs, was named one of the top five music publishing corporations and is the most successful female-owned and operated business in the music industry. In 2001, Warren also received further recognition with a coveted star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Warren’s massive success as a songwriter has offered her the opportunity to support a number of charitable causes. She is a Buddy For Life at AIDS Project Los Angeles and an honorary committee member of PETA.
PINO DONAGGIO
Born in the island of Burano on 24 November 1941, into a family of musicians, Giuseppe "Pino" Donaggio began studying violin at the age of 10, first at the Benedetto Marcello conservatory in Venice, and later at the Giuseppe Verdi conservatory in Milan. His natural talent brought him, at the age of 14, to debut as soloist in a Vivaldi Concert for the Italia Radio, and later to work with Solisti Veneti and Solisti di Milano.
The discovery of rock and roll during a summer holiday in 1959 ended his classical career and made him debut as singer with Paul Anka. From this moment on he started writing his own songs and in a few years Pino Donaggiobecame one of the smartest Italian singers and songwriters.
Pino Donaggio has always been considered a very versatile artist, so his debut as soundtrack composer came really natural. His first work goes back to 1973, with the soundtrack for "Don't Look Now", directed by Nicholas Roeg, starring Donald Sutherland. The magazine "Films and Filming" elected the song as best soundtrack of the year.
Later in 1976 Pino Donaggio started his cooperation with Brian De Palma, writing the soundtracks for "Dressed to Kill", "Blow out" and "Raising Chain".
VALERIA ALTOBELLI
Crowned Miss World Italy in 2004, after working like a singer in different productions and live performances, Valeria Altobelli won the Miss World Talent in China. She has been working on the top italian tv programmes since 2012, winning a vip competition as a singer on Rai1 in 2017 and 2018. Starring in many movie res carpets in Venice and Rome film festival, she was the only Europen walking on the Jackie Chan Action Film Festival red carpet in China, representing Italy in an international acting panel in Beijing. Awarded in 2016 for being the youngest character of the year for her hard and serious work in different charity project, she founded her own international NGO, Mission, made up by all former Misses and women from almost 150 countries all over the world, to empower women with education programmes in order to protect them from mental and phisical.
In 2019 she was called to sing and play an irish song in Italy, in front of Bob Geldof, the inventor of Live Aid, because of her philantrophy and music commitment. Valeria is currently the godmother of the University where she got her Degrees where she is founding a Master in Music and Arts. In 2020 she was interviewed by CNN with the pluri Oscars nominated songwriter Diane Warren and with the soundtrack composer John Debney for a project they made against violence on women with an international anthem she adaptated in 7 languages sang, 15 spoken and 23 written: Valeria was the producer and the ideator of this project, and she even took care of all the artistical production, putting together an international choir of 50 nations in Diane Warren’s studio, Realsongs, in Los Angeles.
She cooperated with Diane Warren again in 2020 for the international COVID-19 found. In 2023 she wrote the soundtrack for the film Paradox Effect, starring Harvey Keitel and Olga Kurylenko. Also in 2023, she produced, wrote the soundtrack and starred in the short film Maledetta Primavera, on the theme of gender equality in sport, sponsored by the Italian National Football Federation and the National Olympic Commettee.
Valeria is a University Professor in International Cyber Law.
MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE ART OF FILM MUSIC : JEAN-MICHEL BERNARD
Jean-Michel Bernard is a singular pianist, who has found his place at the crossroads of genres. With a solid classical training, with the freedom of jazz, he is resolutely a pianist of cinema, between interpretation and reinvention, unique in its genre. The one that Ray Charles described as “Genius! », or Lalo Schifrin of « Soul brother » has developed all the talents in his immense career: composer, orchestrator, arranger, concert performer. In 40 years, he has worked on more than 200 films, series and documentaries. He was Music Director for many television channels and on the radio on France Inter (L’oreille en coin). He has arranged and produced over 25 albums.
Jean-Michel Bernard has worked with the greatest: composer for Michel Gondry, member of the Quartet of Ray Charles, collaborator of Ennio Morricone, Martin Scorsese (inversion Morricone avec Scorsese, Lalo Schifrin. He works with Claude Chabrol, Francis Lai, Bruno Coulais, Philippe Sarde, Francis Veber, Fanny Ardant and many others... He has always been at the heart of musical creation for film and image, to the point of often being guest in master class in Festivals (Cannes, Paris-Grand Rex /Audi Festival, La Baule, Los Angeles, Krakow, Montreal, Tokyo…).
SEAN CALLERY
Sean Callery is an American musician and composer, best known for composing the music for the action/drama 24 and the Marvel adaptation Jessica Jones. Other projects include the 2004 video game, James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing and the television series La Femme Nikita and Homeland. Most recently he composes the music for the series Designated Survivor and Bull.
Callery next again collaborated with Surnow on the television series 24 from 2001 to 2010. For his work on that series, he received three Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition For a Series (Dramatic Underscore), in 2003, 2006 and 2010. He also won the 2007 Film & TV Music Awards for Best Score for a Dramatic Television Program and Best Television Theme for his work on the series. In addition to his work on 24, Callery scored the music to the television series Medium from 2005 to 2010, all the episodes of Shark, and composed the music for Bones beginning with its fourth season.
In 2011 he scored the music to the miniseries The Kennedys and Kiefer Sutherland's webseries The Confession. In December, 2011, he teamed up with executive producer Howard Gordon of 24 again, for the television series Homeland. In 2012, he composed the theme music for the CBS television show Elementary. In 2014, he scored the music to the ninth season of 24, 24: Live Another Day, a special event-series, after a four-year hiatus. In 2015, he scored the music to Marvel's Jessica Jones on Netflix, for which he won the 2016 Emmy for Outstanding Original Main Title Music, which brings his total Emmy wins up to four.
GABRIEL MARINI / DAVID IMBAULT
Gabriel Marini is an author, composer, arranger and singer. He connects a hundred concerts a year around his compositions or by providing various tributes including a tribute to Frank Sinatra.
David Imbault learned music from an early age. At 18, he began studying Jazz at the Pro Musica musical training center under the direction of Dominique Lièvres (Avignon).
Very quickly, David Imbault met director Lorenzo Gabriele to produce the music for his TV movie “Fête de Famille” (Family Party) in 2005. This meeting was the start of a long artistic collaboration for him. In 2007, David Imbault wrote his first music for a documentary. More will follow for television programs and fiction.
In 202, Gabriel Marini and David Imbault wrote the music for the movie "IMPLANTED", and continue working on various documentaries together.
Gabriel & David are often on stage. They toured in France and Quebec. They also opened the show to singers like Sinclair, Manu Tchao, Michael Jones and many others.
RAY COSTA
Ray Costa is the founder and president of Costa Communications, the premier public relations, marketing and consulting firm representing composers and songwriters in visual media. Ray Costa along with Costa Communications has represented such high-profile composers ranging from multi-award winners Alan Menken and Marvin Hamlisch to contemporary composers Alexandre Desplat, Justin Hurwitz, Atticus Ross, Ludwig Goransson, Michael Abels, Robbie Robertson and Steven Price, and new discoveries including Junkie XL, Antonio Sanchez, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Simon Franglen and Kris Bowers.
Costa has been commissioned for Oscar campaigns for songwriters including Billie Eilish, FINNEAS, H.E.R., Drake, Travis Scott, Rhianna, Taylor Swift, Carole King, Beyoncé, Brian Wilson, Van Morrison, Kendrik Lamar, Pasek & Paul, Justin Temberlake, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Diane Warren, Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, and more. Costa Communications has been contracted directly for awards campaigns with virtually every major studio including Warner Bros, Apple, Sony, MGM/UAR, Amazon Studios, Disney, Netflix, The Weinstein Company, Dreamworks, Fox, Universal, IFC, and Paramount. The firm’s award campaigns have successfully yielded nominations and wins for Oscars®, Golden Globes, Grammys, Tonys, Emmys, BAFTAs and other prestigious accolades. For over 20 years, Costa Communications has been the official public relations firm of the Society Of Composers & Lyricists.
Ray Costa is a member of ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. He is a voting member of The Television Academy, The Recording Academy, and the Motion Picture Academy. He has advised leading publications regarding panels and concerts including The Hollywood Reporter/Billboard Film and TV Music Conference, Deadline Sound & Screen Concerts, and Variety Music for Screens. He is an advisor for the World Soundtrack Awards (Ghent, Belgium), The SCL Awards, The Golden Globes, the International Film Music Critics Association, the Transatlantyk Film and Music Festival (Lodj, Poland), Krakow Film Music Festival, and the Middleburg Film Festival (Middleburg, Virginia). Ray Costa is also a co-founder of the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, Fimucité (Tenerife), MOSMA (Malaga, Spain) and the Apulia Film Music Festival (Apulia, Italy).
Costa Communications has represented pro-bono non-profits including Education Through Music – Los Angeles, the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, and Hollywood Heart.
Guests of Honor 2023
SIMON FRANGLEN
MARCO GUAZZONE
Multilingual Italian singer/songwriter and composer Marco Guazzone began his career in 2007. Following an appearance on an MTV show and the placement of several of his songs in various commercials, Guazzone inked a recording deal in 2010. His debut album - produced by Paul McCartney, Depeche Mode and The Cure’s sound engineer Steve Lyon - broke through the Italian charts shortly after its release in 2012. In the same year he run at the 62nd edition of the national television song contest, Sanremo Festival. In 2017 he was nominated at the Italian Oscars, the David Di Donatello Awards, for the Best Original Song for the movie “The Place”.
In 2018 he co-wrote with Ed Sheeran the lyrics for the song “Perfect Symphony”.
He composed several soundtracks for cinema, theater and television and wrote songs for other international artists such as Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban.
In 2020 he was Grammy Nominated for the album “Sì” by Andrea Bocelli as “Best Traditional Pop Album”.
In 2021 he composed the soundtrack for the BVLGARI worldwide campaign including the official music for the fashion show.
His music has recently been featured on international tv shows on Netflix.
Over the past few years he performed as opening act for many artists like Moby, Suzanne, Vega, Jay Brannan, The Irrepressible, Azure Ray and many others.
LAURENT LEVESQUE
French composer Laurent Levesque was introduced to film music while living in New York by the renowned composer Philip Glass. This exposure led to his first collaboration with director Costa-Gavras for the film "Amen", and since then, Levesque has gone on to compose music for over 50 films including "Russian Dolls", "Les Plages d'Agnes" and the Finnish TV series "Replacements". The late Agnes Varda once praised Levesque's music as fresh and reminiscent of Michel Legrand.
He also regularly collaborates with singer Patricia Petibon and violinist Nemanja Radulović under the Sony Music and Warner Classics labels.
At the heart of Levesque's work lies a deep exploration of human emotions, particularly the nuances of love, passion, and compassion. This emotional focus is reflected in the minimalist, repetitive patterns that are a hallmark of Levesque's music. These patterns gradually evolve into memorable themes, surrounded by touching vibrations that evoke a powerful emotional response in listeners.
GABRIEL MARINI / DAVID IMBAULT
Gabriel Marini is an author, composer, arranger and singer. He connects a hundred concerts a year around his compositions or by providing various tributes including a tribute to Frank Sinatra.
David Imbault learned music from an early age. At 18, he began studying Jazz at the Pro Musica musical training center under the direction of Dominique Lièvres (Avignon).
Very quickly, David Imbault met director Lorenzo Gabriele to produce the music for his TV movie “Fête de Famille” (Family Party) in 2005. This meeting was the start of a long artistic collaboration for him. In 2007, David Imbault wrote his first music for a documentary. More will follow for television programs and fiction.
In 202, Gabriel Marini and David Imbault wrote the music for the movie "IMPLANTED", and continue working on various documentaries together.
Gabriel & David are often on stage. They toured in France and Quebec. They also opened the show to singers like Sinclair, Manu Tchao, Michael Jones and many others.
ROBERTO FIA
Roberto Fia, composer of music for the theater and author of many successful songs, written in collaboration with lyricists such as Franco Migliacci, Pasquale Panella, Gianni Belfiore, Bruno Lauzi and Vito Pallavicini Nisa and Alberto Testa; sung by big names such as Mina (Amornero and Mio di chi.), Massimo Ranieri, Patty Pravo, Amedeo Minghi, Rita Pavone and Teddy Reno. Clamorous, in 1985, the success of Uno su Mille sung by Gianni Morandi in Italy and by Manuel Mijares (Un en tre Mil) in Latin America, where it got three gold records and one platinum, remaining in the hit parade for months.
He was also the worldwide interpreter of the song Django, the now cult soundtrack of the homonymous film by Sergio Corbucci. At the end of the 70s he signs for RCA the musical production of Renato Carosone, and, for the aforementioned RCA, promotes Patty Pravo, Piero Ciampi, Rita Pavone, etc; as Director of the Last Supper - an RCA structure dedicated to the search for new talent - he contributes to the launch of many artists.
He was later Commissioner for the Sanremo Lab selections (Sanremo Festival) and Commissioner of the SIAE Commission for the Public Domain.
In recent years he has mainly written music for the theatre, collaborating with directors including Giuseppe DiPasquale, Pino Quartullo, Roberto Ciufoli and Patrik Rossi Gastaldi.
Among his latest works, the music of "Limelight" by Charlie Chaplin, with Antonio Salines, directed by Giuseppe Emiliani. His music “Panic” won Best Original Music at WICA in Toronto. And he also took part in the film Ants of Midas by Edgar Honetschläger.
Since March 2023, a CD of his has been released on all his social networks, entitled "Ci lasceremo" which includes 13 unreleased songs, for which he wrote all the music and interpreted by him.
ISABELLA MICALI BARATELLI GULLO
In 1977 Isabella Gullo has collaborated to organize for U.N.E.S.C.O the International Symposium “Right to cultural memories” and from 1978 to 1982 she has been Responsible for External Relations for U.N.I.C.E.F. Italy
Since 1977 she has been P.R. and Press Responsable for various Theatre and Cinema Festivals (among which from 1982 to 1991 "Taormina Arte” Film, Theatre and Music International Festival"); for Theatre Companies (Dario Fo, Franca Rame, Mariangela Melato, Giancarlo Sepe, Mauro Bolognini, Glauco Mauri, Gabriele Lavia, etc.) and in 1987 she has worked for Venice International Film Festival as assistant of the Director Guglielmo Biraghi.
In 1989 she has created and started Showbusiness Services s.a.s. which promoted International Artistic Events and represented Italian and foreign actors, directors and playwrights. Showbusiness Services organized the World Press Junket for U.I.P. United International Pictures (“Black Rain” by Ridley Scott) and for Woody Allen (“Mighty Aphrodite”), then from 1990 to 1999, Services organized and directed every year in Italy "The Susan Strasberg Actors Studio". In 1990 Showbusiness Services organized the Annual Meeting of the President Board of MGM-Paramount-Universal in Rome.
In 2004 the Showbusiness Service sas becomes Idea Productions Srl and after, as Agency Isabella Gullo, she represented Italian and international artists as Omar Sharif, Arnoldo Foà, Marisa Merlini, Dario Fò, Franca Rame, and represents, among whom, Hanna Shygulla, Rade Serbedzja, John Turturro, Jamal Soliman, Franco Nero, Fabio Testi, Alfredo Arias etc.,and Italian and foreign playrights, operating within all sectors and working with film agencies and international literary agencies.
Isabella Gullo represented in Italy, until 2010, the Damascus International Film Festival and for some years the International Istanbul Film Festival. At present she represents in Italy the Festival International du Film D'Amour de Mons, and, since 1999, until now, the Cairo International Film Festival.
She promoted and represented John Turturro for his first direction of an Opera, "Rigoletto", produced by Teatro Massimo of Palermo, Teatro Regio of Turin, Opera di Liège and Shaanxi Performing Arts Centre (SNPAC).
She was a member of the jury of “David di Donatello” award from 2015 to 2018 and in 2022 she was member of the jury of the 7th edition of “BUZZ IFF” Buzau International Film Festival.
AURELIENNE BRAUNER
Aurélienne Brauner was born in Lyon. She entered the prestigious CNSM de Paris at the age of 13. Her teacher there was Philippe Muller, and she has also studied with Mstislav Rostropovich.
In 2014, she was named a super-soliste at the Orchestre National de Bordeaux. She has performed in various cities around the world, including New York, Kyoto, Tokyo, Santander, Verbier, Berlin, Roque d'Anthéron, Philharmonie de Paris, Théâtre du Châtelet, Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, Abbaye de Royaumont, Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, Tchaikovsky Conservatory and Philharmonie of Moscow, Palazzetto Bru Zane in Venice, and Villa Carlotta in Italy.
Since 2021, she has held the position of super-soliste at the Orchestre National de France.
CORO LIRICO DI LECCE
The Lecce Opera Choir Musical Association was founded in July 2002 and it manages the Lecce Opera Choir and the Children's Choir.
From 2002 to 2016 it participated in the Tradition Opera Seasons of the Province of Lecce, in the Symphonic Seasons of the "Tito Schipa" ICO Foundation of Lecce and in the concerts and opera seasons organized by the Municipality of Lecce.
In 2006 it took part in the Opera Season of the Petruzzelli Symphony Opera Foundation; in the years 2010 and 2013 it also partecipated in the concerts of the I.C.O. of Bari and in 2014 in the Opera Season of Potenza.
In 2017 it performed the inaugural concert of the Apollo Theater in Lecce, with the OLES orchestra and the direction of Maestro G. Gelmetti, in the presence of the Head of State Sergio Mattarella, and the symphony n. 9 in D minor by L. V. Beethoven with the symphony orchestra of the Metropolitan City of Bari and the direction of Maestro D. Oren. In its production activity, in execution of the original project "Ti racconto l'opera", in 2013 it organized the representation of Mascagni’s "Cavalleria Rusticana" in Lecce; in 2018 Puccini’s "Tosca" with the participation of the actor Nino Capolicchio; in 2019 Verdi's "La Traviata" directed by Katia Ricciarelli. In 2020 it produced and organized the show "Ti racconto Una Notte à Notre Dame" and in 2022 "La Traviata" in the town of Otranto.
In execution of the original project "Il femminicidio nell'opera lirica", it organized and produced the show "Pria d’ucciderti...sposa...ti baciai" in 2021, with the extraordinary participation of Veronica Pivetti.
In 2021 and 2022 it participated in Puccini's "La Bohème" and Verdi's "La Traviata" on the Amalfi and Sorrento coasts.
It participated in and/or organized support activities and charitable initiatives for the children of the pediatric oncohematology department of the V. Fazzi Hospital in Lecce in 2015, also for the inmates of the Brindisi prison in the years 2012, 2013 and 2017, and for the Emmanuel Community in 2022.
Since 2012 the President of the Lecce Opera Choir Musical Association is the lawyer Ermelinda Coclite. From 2018 the Choir Master and Music Director is Maestro Vincenza Baglivo.
RAY COSTA
Ray Costa is the founder and president of Costa Communications, a leading entertainment public relations firm in Hollywood. Formerly an award-winning broadcast journalist, Ray Costa is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences, the Recording Academy, Television Academy, ASIFA, ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. Costa is on the advisory board of The World Soundtrack Awards (Belgium), the International Film Music Critics Association (Spain), the Transatlantyk Film and Music Festival (Poland), Fimucité (Canary Islands), Hollywood Music in Media Awards, the Middleburg Film Festival and The Krakow Film Music Festival (FMF). In May 2019, Costa was named “Ambassador of the Year” at the Krakow Film Music Festival in Poland for his mission of promoting film music, including co-founding and producing festivals and concerts around the world which highlight film music.
A pioneer in the promotion of film music, over the years Costa has represented some of the biggest names in composing and songwriting, as well as championed and nurtured up and coming talent. Ray Costa and Costa Communications have consulted on awards campaigns with virtually every major studio and streamer, including Sony Pictures, UAR/MGM, Dreamworks, Fox Searchlight, Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros, Apple TV+, and Netflix. Costa’s award campaigns have yielded nominations and wins for Oscars®, Golden Globes, Grammys, Tonys, Emmys, BAFTAs and other prestigious accolades for his clients.
Guests of Honor 2022
LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD : CLAUDIA CARDINALE
In 1958, Claudia Cardinale made her film debut with "The Pigeon" by Monicelli, then "The Girl with a Suitcase" by Zurlini, which really launched her career. Favorite actress of Luchino Visconti (Rocco and his brothers, The Cheetah), she tours with the greatest directors in Italy, France and the United States such as Federico Fellini (Eight and a half), Blake Edwards (The Pink Panther), Sergio Leone (Once upon a time in the West), Marco Ferreri (The Audience). Her international filmography lists around 130 films and Claudia Cardinale has been rewarded for her entire work, among other things, with a Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1993 and an Honorary Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 2002.
On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the films "Huit et demi" and "Le Guépard", the Festival will pay a vibrant tribute to one of the greatest figures and star of world cinema.
MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE ART OF FILM MUSIC : JEAN-MICHEL BERNARD
Jean-Michel Bernard is a singular pianist, who has found his place at the crossroads of genres. With a solid classical training, with the freedom of jazz, he is resolutely a pianist of cinema, between interpretation and reinvention, unique in its genre. The one that Ray Charles described as “Genius! », or Lalo Schifrin of « Soul brother » has developed all the talents in his immense career: composer, orchestrator, arranger, concert performer. In 40 years, he has worked on more than 200 films, series and documentaries. He was Music Director for many television channels and on the radio on France Inter (L’oreille en coin). He has arranged and produced over 25 albums.
Jean-Michel Bernard has worked with the greatest: composer for Michel Gondry, member of the Quartet of Ray Charles, collaborator of Ennio Morricone, Martin Scorsese (inversion Morricone avec Scorsese, Lalo Schifrin. He works with Claude Chabrol, Francis Lai, Bruno Coulais, Philippe Sarde, Francis Veber, Fanny Ardant and many others... He has always been at the heart of musical creation for film and image, to the point of often being guest in master class in Festivals (Cannes, Paris-Grand Rex /Audi Festival, La Baule, Los Angeles, Krakow, Montreal, Tokyo…).
BEST COMPOSITION EMERGING TALENT 2022 : STEFANO TALLINI
In his early years as a musician, he studied acoustic and electric guitar and graduated in Conservatory as a guitarist. He wrote music in the bands he played with (Halesia, Peel Slowly and See, Bells in Autumn), recorded an LP (Bells in Autumn, 2016) and played live in several contexts.
In 2022 he joined two Hollywood Music Workshops summer courses (Orchestral mockup production with Oscar Senén and Writing for TV drama/series with John Lunn).
In July 2022 he won the first prize in the international film scoring festival Apulia Soundtrack Awards.