Italian Theatre Masks, awards ceremony in Rome on Friday: here are the finalists.

On Friday, September 12th, at 7:00 pm, the Teatro Argentina stage will host the 2025 Maschere del Teatro Italiano award ceremony , the theatrical recognition now in its twenty-second year , which honors the artists and shows performed in the past season . The evening will be hosted by actress Teresa Saponangelo , winner of the David di Donatello, alongside Antonio Bannò , a promising young figure on the Italian theater and film scene. The ceremony will also be enriched by the participation of special guest Claudia Gerini, who will treat the audience to a moving singing moment performing Franco Califano's La nevicata del '56 , accompanied by musician Mario Donatone . For the awards ceremony, Saponangelo will be joined by two emerging talents from the Teatro di Roma's advanced training program, Federica Quartana and Federico Gariglio . Federica Quartana will add a touch of elegance to her style, wearing two gowns created by Maison Alessio Visone , known for dressing leading ladies of film and television. The Award—created in 2002 by director Luca De Fusco and journalist Maurizio Giammusso with the patronage of Agis , and promoted and organized for the second year by the Fondazione Teatro di Roma —renews the commitment to promoting Italian theater in all its forms. Judging is entrusted to an audience of over 1,000 professionals , joined for the first time by season ticket holders of major national theaters , who, through an anonymous electronic voting system, select the winners from the shortlists selected by the jury led by President Gianni Letta . This year's edition also awards thirteen categories and four special prizes , including among the finalists artists, male and female, and shows of recognized theatrical value. For Best Direction , the shortlist includes the talents of Roberto Andò for Sarabanda , Gabriele Lavia for King Lear , and Carlo Sciaccaluga for Equus ; while for Best Prose Performance, the prize is competed for by A Place of Safety (by Kepler-452), King Lear (directed by Gabriele Lavia) and Capitolo Due (directed by Massimiliano Civica); for the category Best Author of a New Italian Work , Kepler-452 , Dino Lopardo , and Davide Sacco . The art of acting is highlighted by the Best Actor Award , which pits three big names against each other: Valerio Binasco for Things I Know Are True , Lino Guanciale for I'm Scared of a Torero , and Alessandro Averone for Nervous Breakdown . Among the women, the Best Actress category includes artists of the caliber of Giuliana De Sio for Things I Know Are True , Federica Di Martino for Long Day's Journey Into Night , and Milvia Marigliano for I parenti terribili . The nominations for Best Supporting Actor include Francesco Biscione for War and Peace , Luca Lazzareschi for King Lear , and Elia Schilton for Sarabande ; while the nominees for Best Supporting Actress include Viola Graziosi for The Kaufmann Affair , Sara Putignano for I'm Scared of a Torero, and Silvia Siravo for King Lear . The award for Best Monologue Performer celebrates the solo performances of Davide Enia for Self-Portrait , Fabrizio Gifuni for The Ghosts of Our History and Valentina Picello for Anna Cappelli , while the future of the theatre is represented by the candidates for Best Emerging Actor/Actress : Giovanni Drago , Mersila Sokoli and Caterina Tieghi .

The success of a show also depends on technical excellence and creativity expressed through sets, lighting, costumes and music. The nominees for Best Set Design are Alessandro Camera , Gianni Carluccio and Gregorio Zurla , while for Best Costume Design the nominees are Gianluca Sbicca , Andrea Viotti and Katarina Vukcevic . Furthermore, the nominees for Best Music are Massimo Cordovani , Alessandro Ferroni and Pasquale Scialò , and finally for Best Lighting the names in the running are Gianni Carluccio , Gigi Saccomandi and Gianni Staropoli . Four important special awards enrich the 2025 edition of the Maschere: the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Tullio Solenghi ; the Maurizio Scaparro International Special Award to Argentine director Claudio Tolcachir ; the Graziella Lonardi Buontempo Award presented to Alessandra Necci . Added to these is the return for the first time of the Italo Gemini Special Prize , a historic Agis award established in 1985, named after its founder and first president, and which returns after a thirty-year absence on the occasion of the Association's 80th anniversary . The Prize will be awarded to a figure who, with his or her commitment and vision, has significantly contributed to the growth and enhancement of the entertainment world. The winners of the thirteen competing categories will be announced during the evening ceremony and each winner will receive a steel mask placed on an Etna stone, a unique work of art created by the artist and metal craftsman Paolo Gambardella .

FINALIST TERNES

• Best Prose Performance:
  • A place of safety, conceived by Kepler -452, directed and written by Enrico Baraldi and Nicola Borghesi
  • King Lear , directed by Gabriele Lavia
  • Chapter Two , directed by Massimiliano Civica
• Best Director:
  • Roberto Andò for Sarabanda
  • Gabriele Lavia for King Lear
  • Equus , directed by Carlo Sciaccaluga
• Best Actor in a Leading Role:
  • Valerio Binasco, for Things I Know to Be True
  • Lino Guanciale, for I'm Scared a Bullfighter
  • Alessandro Averone for Nervous Breakdown
• Best Actress in a Leading Role:
  • Giuliana De Sio, for Things I Know to Be True
  • Federica Di Martino, for Long Day's Journey Into Night
  • Milvia Marigliano, for The Terrible Relatives
• Best Supporting Actor:
  • Francesco Biscione, for War and Peace
  • Luca Lazzareschi, for King Lear
  • Elia Schilton, for Sarabanda
• Best Supporting Actress:
  • Viola Graziosi, for The Kaufmann Case
  • Sara Putignano, for I'm Scared a Bullfighter
  • Silvia Siravo, for King Lear
• Best New Actor/Actress:
  • Giovanni Drago, for Things I Know Aren't True
  • Mersila Sokoli, for War and Peace
  • Caterina Tieghi, for Sarabanda
• Best Monologue Performer:
  • Davide Enia, for Self-Portrait
  • Fabrizio Gifuni, for The Ghosts of Our History
  • Valentina Picello, for Anna Cappelli
• Best Production Designer:
  • Alessandro Camera, for King Lear
  • Gianni Carluccio for Sarabanda
  • Gregorio Zurla, for The Golem
• Best Costume Designer:
  • Gianluca Sbicca, for I'm Scared a Bullfighter
  • Andrea Viotti, for King Lear
  • Katarina Vukcevic, for Terrible Relatives
• Best Music:
  • Massimo Cordovani, for Terrible Relatives
  • Alessandro Ferroni, for Uccellini
  • Pasquale Scialò, for Sarabanda
• Best Author of New Italian Books:
  • Kepler -452 for A place of safety
  • Dino Lopardo, for Affogo
  • Davide Sacco, for The Pig Doctor
• Best lights:
  • Gianni Carluccio for Sarabanda
  • Gigi Saccomandi, for War and Peace
  • Gianni Staropoli, for The Golem