by Ross A. Lincoln

Several 2016 Oscar contenders including Lady Gaga & Diane Warren, and Ennio Morricone, will be honored next week at the 11th annual Italia Film Festival. The week-long pre-Oscars showcase of the best of Italian culture happens February 21-27 in Los Angeles at the TLC Chinese 6 Theatres.

Among the events featured in this year's festival is the first-ever US retrospective of Italian Writer-Director Mario Martone. The tribute will showcase his Giacomo Leopardi biopic Il giovane favoloso, his adaptation of the mystery novel L'Amore Molesto by author Elena Ferrante, and the historical-drama We Believed, among others. Meanwhile, Best Original Score nominee Ennio Morricone will be honored with a homage in advance of the composer receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 26th, and the Documentary of the Year Award will go to Oscar-nominated Cartel Land from director Matthew Heinemann.

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Source: http://deadline.com/