Johnny Depp is set to be honored with a Lifetime Achievement award at the upcoming Rome Film Festival, taking place from October 16 to 27. The festival, which began in 2006, will also celebrate Francis Ford Coppola and Viggo Mortensen with the same prestigious award.
At 61, Depp will attend the event to present Modi, his latest film that dives into the life of Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani. The movie follows 48 intense hours in Modigliani’s life as he navigates war-torn Paris during World War I.
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Viggo Mortensen and Francis Ford Coppola Join the Festivities
Viggo Mortensen, 65, will be there to showcase The Dead Don’t Hurt, a Western he wrote, directed, and starred in.
Meanwhile, the legendary Francis Ford Coppola, 85, will present the Italian premiere of Megalopolis, which was filmed at Cinecittà Studios—the same spot where The Godfather Part III was made.
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Depp’s Return to the Director’s Chair with Modi!
Modi is Johnny Depp’s first film as a director in over two decades. His last directing gig was The Brave in 1997, a film he also starred in alongside Marlon Brando.
This time around, Depp is grateful to Al Pacino, who plays French art collector Maurice Gangnat in the movie, for encouraging him to return to the director’s seat.
“Embarking on this cinematic journey as the director of Modi has been incredibly fulfilling,” Depp shared in a statement.
“I owe immense gratitude to the entire cast and crew for their dedication and creativity. And to Al, who insisted I make this film—how could I refuse Pacino?”
The movie features Italian actor Riccardo Scamarcio as Modigliani, with Antonia Desplat, Stephen Graham, and Sally Phillips in supporting roles.
The film explores a whirlwind 48 hours as Modigliani, on the run from the police, contemplates leaving the art world. His fellow Bohemians, however, aren’t ready to let him go.
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A New Chapter After Public Legal Battles
Modi marks Depp’s first major project since Jeanne du Barry, where he portrayed Louis XV. The actor had been relatively quiet on the film scene after a highly publicized legal battle with his ex-wife Amber Heard. In May 2023, Depp won a defamation case against Heard, marking a turning point in his career.
With Modi premiering and his Lifetime Achievement award, Depp’s creative journey appears far from over, and fans are eager to see what he does next.