Italian actor Lino Banfi celebrated
his 80th birthday on Monday with the young patients of Bambin
Gesù Children's Hospital on the Janiculum Hill in Rome as part
of the official preview event for the 46th Giffoni Film
Festival.
The Festival will take place in Giffoni Valle Piana in
Salerno from July 15-24.
Monday's event was organised by Aura's Charity as part of
the Giffoni Experience.
Banfi met with Francesco Avallone, secretary general of the
Bambino Gesù Foundation, hospital scientific director Bruno
Dallapiccola and health director Massimiliano Raponi, Giffoni
Experience Deputy Director Manlio Castagna, and Aura President
Alfonsina Novellino.
Festival Director Claudio Gubitosi said he was happy that
Banfi chose to spend the day at the event.
"This shows his great sensitivity as a man. I'm certain that
it will be an unforgettable moment for the little patients at
Bambin Gesù. We have to thank the hospital and its president
Mariella Enoc for this opportunity," Gubitosi said.
Enoc, who is also president of the Bambin Gesù Foundation,
said the event reaffirms the partnership between Giffoni and
Bambin Gesù.
During the Giffoni Film Festival, one of the films will be
awarded the "Courageous Lives Prize", which takes its name from
the Bambin Gesù Foundation's national Jubilee Year of Mercy fund
drive.
A group of patients will also make up part of this year's
festival jury.
Gubitosi will present the festival programme on Monday
evening at the new Marina d'Arechi tourist port in Salerno, with
Festival President Piero Rinaldi and Giffoni Valle Piana Mayor
Antonio Giuliano.
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