Wednesday, August 25, 2026 - Martin Scorsese is set to take on one of the most prestigious honorary roles in Italian cinema after accepting a proposal to become honorary president of the Accademia del Cinema Italiano – Premi David di Donatello.
The 83-year-old filmmaker accepted the position following a proposal from Italy’s Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli, with the academy’s board now expected to formally approve the appointment. The honor places Scorsese at the center of Italy’s leading film institution at a major moment of change.
Scorsese said Italian cinema has been a constant source of inspiration throughout his life and that its filmmakers, artistic traditions and films profoundly shaped both his understanding of cinema and his own work.
The appointment is especially fitting given his deep connection to Italian film culture and his family roots in Sicily. His extraordinary body of work includes Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, The Departed, The Irishman and Killers of the Flower Moon, cementing his position as one of the most influential directors of his generation.
The appointment also comes as the David di Donatello Academy undergoes a major leadership overhaul, with Silvia Calandrelli serving as president and Gian Luca Farinelli taking over as artistic director.
Scorsese’s arrival adds enormous international visibility to the revamped institution and strengthens its ambition to promote Italian cinema globally. For a filmmaker whose career has been shaped by Italy’s cinematic legacy, the role represents a powerful new chapter—and could give him an even greater platform to champion the films and filmmakers he has spent decades supporting.
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