The actress and author Emanuela Fanelli, one of the most original and innovative performers in Italian cinema and television, will host the opening and closing nights of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival of La Biennale di Venezia (27 August – 6 September 2025).
Emanuela Fanelli will lead the inauguration ceremony of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on the night of Wednesday 27 August on the stage of Sala Grande (Palazzo del Cinema on the Lido), as well as the closing ceremony to be held on Saturday 6 September, when the winners of the Lions and the other official prizes of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival will be announced.
A profound and versatile actress, Emanuela Fanelli moves effortlessly from comedy to drama, remaining perfectly consistent in her expressivity. Her work is appreciated not only for her acting talent, but also for her ability to capture the ironies and contradictions of the present time through her own deep and personal perspective. She writes her own monologues.
EMANUELA FANELLI
Since her film debut in Non essere cattivo (Don’t Be Bad) by Claudio Caligari in 2015, Emanuela Fanelli (Rome, 6 July1986) has appeared in films such as Gli ultimi saranno ultimi (The Last will be the Last), Assolo, Beata ignoranza, A mano disarmata. She gained early recognition among television audiences through the series Dov’è Mario?, in which she starred with Corrado Guzzanti, who wrote the series together with Mattia Torre, and as the co-host of the programme Una pezza di Lundini, in which she displayed a talent for highly original and surreal comedy, becoming a defining voice for a new generation of viewers. Over the years, she participated in programmes such as La TV delle ragazze – Gli Stati Generali, Battute? and hit series such as Call My Agent – Italia and No Activity – Niente da segnalare. Her break in cinema came with the film Siccità by Paolo Virzì, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. In it she starred as Raffaella, a role that won her the 2023 David di Donatello as Best Supporting Actress, on her first nomination. The following year she won a second David di Donatello, on her second nomination, for her performance in Paola Cortellesi’s directorial debut C’è ancora domani (There’s still Tomorrow), in which she played Marisa, an intense role that confirmed her remarkable gift for bringing genuine and complex female characters to life. In 2024, she was again directed by Paolo Virzì in the sequel to the historic film Ferie d’agosto, Un altro ferragosto.
Since 2016, she has been a regular guest of Lillo e Greg’s radio show 610 on Rai Radio 2.
At the end of 2019, she starred in the videoclip Immigrato, a piece by Checco Zalone made for the release in theatres of his box office hit Tolo Tolo. She has won a series of acknowledgments since the early days of her career, including a special mention as Best Actress and Best Monologue at the Ciak, si Roma! festival (on the jury Carlo Verdone, Daniele Luchetti and Lina Wertmüller) and an award as Best Actress in the 48h Film Project, for her role in the short Un film d’amore. She hosted the 2021 Torino Film Festival and was the narrating voice in the documentary I magnifici quattro della risata (Benigni, Nuti, Verdone, Troisi) presented at the Rome Film Fest 2022. In 2024, she won the Manfredi Prize at the Nastri d’Argento awards and in 2025 took part in the box-office hit Follemente by Paolo Genovese.
Emmy-nominated actresses Yvette Nicole Brown, left, and Kym Whitley will participate in the First Ladies Health Initiative’s “Mindful of the Memories: A Path to Better Brain Health” luncheon Sept. 19 in Marina del Rey, California.
The Sept. 19 luncheon in Marina del Rey will spotlight Alzheimer’s, dementia, caregiving and brain health as the First Ladies Health Initiative celebrates new grant support for programs empowering girls.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (FNN) — Emmy-nominated actresses Kym Whitley and Yvette Nicole Brown will headline a First Ladies Health Initiative luncheon focused on Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, caregiving and brain health on Saturday, Sept. 19, in Marina del Rey.
The First Ladies Health Initiative, or FLHI, will host its leaders summit luncheon, “Mindful of the Memories: A Path to Better Brain Health,” beginning at 11 a.m. at The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey.
Whitley, whose credits include Act Your Age and Raising Whitley, and Brown, known for Community, Act Your Age and The Mayor, will participate in a fireside conversation moderated by Dr. Shalonda “Sunshine” Crawford, co-pastor of Experience Christian Ministries.
The discussion will address the experiences of families affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia, including the demands placed on caregivers and the challenges of balancing caregiving with careers and other responsibilities.
Personal Experiences Bring Caregiving Into Focus
FLHI Co-Executive Director Marquisé Alston-Allison said Whitley and Brown were selected in part because both have personal experience caring for their fathers.
“Alzheimer’s disease has a devastating impact on the African American community, where individuals are approximately twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia,” Alston-Allison said in the organization’s announcement.
The luncheon takes place two days before World Alzheimer’s Day on Sept. 21.
Brain Health and Prevention Take Center Stage
FLHI is also partnering with the INSPIRE-Faith program at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, led by neurologists Drs. Dean and Ayesha Sherzai.
The program emphasizes lifestyle factors associated with brain and overall health, including nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management and social connections.
The initiative brings prevention-focused health education into faith and community settings while addressing conditions such as dementia, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and stroke.
Luncheon to Feature Music and Special Honors
Radio personality Aundrae Russell of 102.3 KJLH-FM will serve as emcee, with a musical performance by recording artist David Daughtry.
FLHI will also pay tribute to its founding president, Tracey Alston, who died last year.
Dr. Betty Ruth Price, former first lady, co-founder and matriarch of Crenshaw Christian Center, will also be honored during the event.
FLHI Among Organizations Receiving Girls Opportunity Alliance Support
The event comes as FLHI celebrates its selection for support through the Obama Foundation’s Girls Opportunity Alliance.
According to the announcement, a total of $500,000 will be distributed among 10 organizations working to empower girls, with FLHI among the selected recipients.
FLHI is currently led by second-generation co-executive directors Marquisé Alston-Allison and Taylor Alston-Cleveland, alongside co-founder and National Chair Jamell Meeks of Salem Baptist Church in Chicago and Los Angeles Chair Crawford.
The organization also acknowledged support from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Healthy Mind Initiatives, Black Girl Vitamins and The Ritz-Carlton.
OIFW returns Nov. 8-15 with fashion, entertainment and cultural events across Orlando, culminating in a runway weekend at Caribe Royale Orlando.
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) —Orlando International Fashion Week is opening early bird access for its Fall 2026 “The Shows Pass,” giving guests an opportunity to secure admission to the event’s final weekend runway experiences before individual show tickets go on sale.
Orlando International Fashion Week, or OIFW, returns Nov. 8-15, 2026, with a week of fashion, art, music, entertainment, runway shows and cultural experiences throughout Orlando.
Select events will be invitation-only, while public ticketed programming will be offered throughout the week. The celebration will culminate with runway programming at Caribe Royale Orlando, the host hotel for OIFW’s final weekend experiences.
Early Bird Shows Passes
The Shows Pass is designed for guests seeking early access to OIFW’s featured runway experiences during the final weekend.
Early bird options include:
2-Day General Access — Nov. 14-15: $275
2-Day Preferred Access — Nov. 14-15: $425
2-Day Front Row Access — Nov. 14-15: $650
3-Day Front Row Access — Nov. 13-15: $750
Two-day passes include access to featured OIFW runway experiences on Saturday, Nov. 14, and Sunday, Nov. 15, at Caribe Royale Orlando.
Select three-day pass options also include FEN Social on Friday, Nov. 13, at Society Orlando, along with the final weekend runway experiences.
Individual show tickets are expected to be released at a later date.
Fashion, Entertainment and Tourism Come Together
“Orlando International Fashion Week continues to grow as a platform where fashion, entertainment, culture, and tourism come together,” said Rob Henlon, co-founder of Fierce Entertainment Management. “The Shows Pass gives our audience a first opportunity to be part of the final weekend experience as we prepare to announce more designers, models, featured guests, vendors, and special programming.”
OIFW is a Fierce Entertainment initiative produced and coordinated by Fierce Entertainment Management LLC.
Fall 2026 Model Casting Set for Sept. 26-27
Ahead of fashion week, OIFW will hold its Fall 2026 Model Casting on Sept. 26-27 in continued collaboration with the Global Peace Film Festival.
The casting will give models an opportunity to be considered for fashion, media, festival, promotional, live-event and runway opportunities connected to the Global Peace Film Festival and OIFW’s November 2026 shows.
Fierce Entertainment Management will manage and coordinate the casting.
Vendor Opportunities Available
Vendor opportunities are also available for select Fall 2026 events, including FEN Social at Society Orlando and the OIFW runway weekend at Caribe Royale Orlando.
Participation is subject to approval, space availability, venue guidelines and production needs.
Ten-time Grammy Award winner Chaka Khan, left, will serve as honorary ambassador, while Grammy-winning singer and founding 112 member Q Parker will serve as honorary gala chair for the Living Legends Foundation’s 35th Anniversary Awards Dinner & Gala on Oct. 2, 2026, in Atlanta. Chaka Khan photo: Nick Nelson; Q Parker photo: Quadir Thomas
Milestone celebration will recognize the executives, radio personalities, entrepreneurs and cultural leaders who helped shape Black music and entertainment
ATLANTA, Ga. (FNN) — Ten-time Grammy Award winner Chaka Khan will serve as honorary ambassador and Grammy-winning singer and founding 112 member Q Parker as honorary gala chair for the Living Legends Foundation’s 35th Anniversary Awards Dinner & Gala, the organization announced.
The milestone celebration is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 2, in Atlanta and will bring together artists, music executives, radio personalities, creatives, entrepreneurs and cultural leaders to recognize the people whose work has helped shape Black music, media and entertainment.
For Khan, the role marks a return to an organization that recognized her more than three decades ago. She was among the artists honored by the Living Legends Foundation in 1992.
“When you cross a bridge, you don’t think about all the hands that built it. Some of the most important contributions are the ones we never see,” Khan said in the announcement. “Thank you, Living Legends Foundation, for seeing that every story matters and for honoring those hands and hearts that helped build the way for all of us.”
Chaka Khan Returns for Milestone Anniversary
Living Legends Foundation Chairman David C. Linton said Khan’s connection to the organization makes her participation especially significant during its 35th anniversary.
“Having Chaka Khan serve as our Honorary Ambassador during this milestone year is incredibly meaningful,” Linton said. “Chaka’s history with the Foundation reaches back to our earliest years, and her extraordinary career represents the excellence, longevity and cultural impact we have worked to celebrate for 35 years.”
Khan’s appearance also comes as she prepares for another chapter in her recording career. According to the foundation’s announcement, her new album, “Chakzilla,” is scheduled for release Sept. 18. The project, described as her first full-length album in seven years, includes collaborations with Sia, Snoop Dogg and Lenny Kravitz.
The combination of Khan’s new music and her honorary role highlights one of the gala’s central themes: connecting the legacy of Black music with the people continuing to move the industry forward.
Q Parker to Serve as Honorary Gala Chair
Joining Khan is Q Parker, a founding member of Grammy-winning R&B group 112. Parker will serve as honorary gala chair and help promote the foundation’s work recognizing and supporting music industry professionals.
“Black music has given me a career, a community, and an opportunity to use my gifts to impact people around the world, so serving as Honorary Chair for the Living Legends Foundation’s 35th anniversary is truly an honor,” Parker said.
Parker said the industry’s success extends far beyond the artists audiences see on stage.
“This organization understands that our industry is bigger than the names we see on the marquee,” Parker said. “There are countless people behind the scenes who have dedicated their lives to moving our culture forward.”
Parker recently released the single “Stare,” from his forthcoming album, “Evolution of Romance, Volume Two,” expected this fall, according to the announcement.
Honoring the People Behind Black Music and Culture
Founded in 1991, the Living Legends Foundation has built its mission around recognizing professionals whose work has helped bring Black music and culture to audiences around the world.
Beyond its annual honors, the nonprofit provides support to music industry professionals with confirmed needs and invests in future generations through mentorship, scholarships and other assistance.
The anniversary gala will continue that mission by placing executives, broadcasters, advocates, entrepreneurs and other behind-the-scenes leaders alongside some of the most recognizable figures in entertainment.
2026 Living Legends Foundation Honorees
This year’s honorees include:
Ray Harris Lifetime Achievement Award: Louis Carr, president of BET
A.D. Washington Chairman’s Award: Black Promoters Collective
Jerry Boulding Radio Executive Award: Kenny Smoov, vice president of urban programming, Cumulus
Frankie Crocker Radio Personality Award: Greg Street, air personality, V-103 Atlanta
Impact Player Award: Juliette Jones, COO, Alamo Records
Music Executive Award: Tim Reid, senior vice president, repertoire and marketing, BMG Recorded Music
Mike Bernardo Female Executive Award: Phylicia Fant, global director, Black Music + Culture, Amazon Music
Kendall Minter Entertainment Advocate Award: James McMillan, Esq., CEO, ART@WAR Entertainment
Hip-Hop Visionary Award: Ted Lucas, founder and CEO, Slip-N-Slide Records
Entrepreneur Award: Ralph McDaniels, executive producer, “Video Music Box”
Why the 35th Anniversary Matters
The anniversary reflects more than three decades of recognizing people whose contributions to Black music and entertainment have not always received the same public attention as the artists they helped build, promote and sustain.
That history is reflected in Khan’s return. After being recognized by the foundation in its early years, she will now help honor another generation of industry leaders.
The 35th Anniversary Awards Dinner & Gala will continue the Living Legends Foundation’s tradition of celebrating achievement, leadership, innovation and service while preserving the stories of the people who helped build the business and culture surrounding Black music.
