South African film director, Regardt van den Bergh, is to be awarded the special Ischia Global Award for his “extraordinary films and contribution to the art industry” at the 7th Annual Ischia Global Film & Music Fest. Van den Bergh’s latest film, Tornado and the Kalahari Horse Whisperer, based on a true story shot in the Kalahari be showcased at the event. Tornado is currently on circuit in South Africa.
This year’s Ischia Film and Music Fest will be dedicated to South African Art & Cinema. Regardt’s award is to be recognised among the most reputable international stars of the big screen.
Among the talent who participated in previous years include 27 Oscar© winners. Some of the most notable names include directors Francis Ford Coppola, Norman Jewison, Neil Jordan, Oliver Stone, Bille August and Giuseppe Tornatore; actors Hilary Swank, Sir Ben Kingsley, Vanessa Redgrave, Matt Dillon, Naomi Watts, Gael Garcia Bernal, Diane Kruger, Gerard Butler, Claire Danes, F. Murray Abraham, Rosario Dawson, Dennis Hopper, Brenda Blethym, Joseph Fiennes, Kim Cattral, Freddie Highmore and Val Kilmer.
The ceremony will be chaired by the Academy Award-winning director Paul Haggis, while the multi-talented Hollywood manager Jason Weinberg is to serve as Master of Ceremonies. Producer Mark Canton will be on the top of the Honorary Board with some of the incredible talents who have been attending the festival in the past six years. The awards ceremony is to take place on 12 July 2009 on the Isle of Ischia, Italy.
Tornado and the Kalahari Horse Whisperer is based on the true life story of Barrie Burger and Pierre van Rooyen. The film stars Quentin Krog, Leán van den Bergh and Danny Keogh and was released by Ster-Kinekor Distribution on 10 April.
