Johnny Depp is set to receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the upcoming Rome Film Festival, scheduled for October 16-27, 2024. This honor coincides with the screening of his latest directorial venture, Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness, a biopic centered on the tumultuous life of Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani.
Modi portrays a dramatic seventy-two-hour period in Modigliani's life amidst the chaos of war-torn Paris in 1916. The film delves into the struggles of the bohemian artist, who finds himself on the run from the police while grappling with the decision to abandon his career. Depp’s film features an ensemble cast, including Riccardo Scamarcio as Modigliani, alongside notable actors such as Al Pacino, Antonia Desplat, and Stephen Graham.
The narrative unfolds as Modigliani seeks refuge with fellow artists, including Maurice Utrillo and Chaim Soutine, and is advised by his art dealer and friend, Leopold Zborowski. As the story progresses, a night of hallucinations leads to a critical encounter with American art collector Maurice Gangnat, whose interest in Modigliani could change the artist's fate.
This film marks Depp’s return to directing for the first time since his 1997 project, The Brave, and follows a challenging period in his personal life, including a high-profile defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard. Modi will debut in the festival's non-competitive Grand Public section before its official release in Italy, with distribution handled by Be Water, Maestro Distribution, and Medusa Film.
In addition to Depp, the festival will also honor actor Viggo Mortensen with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his film The Dead Don't Hurt. The Rome Film Festival promises to be a celebration of cinematic talent and storytelling.
