La pazza gioia wins Best Film at 2017 David di Donatello Awards

At the 61st David di Donatello Awards, held at the Quirinale Palace in Rome on March 27, 2017, Paolo Virzì's 'La pazza gioia' won Best Film and Best Director. The ceremony, hosted by Alessandro Cattelan and broadcast by Sky, was the first since the death of founder Gian Luigi Rondi, with Giuliano Montaldo temporarily replacing him. Roberto Benigni received a David di Donatello for Career Achievement, delivering a speech praising cinema as a force for happiness and culture. Valeria Bruni Tedeschi won Best Actress for 'La pazza gioia', while Stefano Accorsi won Best Actor for 'Veloce come il vento'. Other major winners included 'Indivisibili' (Best Producer, Best Original Screenplay, Best Music, Best Costume Design) and 'Fiore' (Best Supporting Actor for Valerio Mastandrea). The awards highlighted a shift in Italian cinema toward bold, low-budget storytelling.