Marina Cicogna, a historic film producer, died in Rome at the age of 89. Marina Cicogna Mozzoni Volpi di Misurata (that was her full name) was born in Rome on May 29, 1934. First woman film producer in Europe, she produced some of the most important Italian art house films. These included Pier Paolo Pasolini's "Theorem", Giuseppe Patroni Griffi's "Love Circle", and Elio Petri's "Investigation of a Citizen above suspicion", which won the 1971 Oscar for best foreign film. An Oscar that the producer did not go to collect because of an insurmountable fear of flying. The New York Times described her as "the first great Italian film producer" and "one of the most powerful women in European cinema". Marina Cicogna died as she had intended, in the wooden bed that was her mother Annamaria's, with carved lion's paws, shipped from her home in Venice to her home at 34 Via di Porta Pinciana in Rome. Daughter of Count Cesare Cicogna Mozzoni and Countess Annamaria Volpi di Misurata, granddaughter of Count Giuseppe Volpi di Misurata, a Venetian who invented the Venice Film Festival in 1932, Countess Marina Cicogna breathed cinema atmosphere from a young age. Arts graduate of Sarah Lawrence College in New York after graduating from high school with a classical degree, she had always had a great passion for the silver screen. Euro International Films company, purchased by the family, had entrusted her with the task of choosing films for distribution in Italy. After the suicide of her brother Bino in Rio de Janeiro and the Euro financial crisis, she moved to the United States. She was a free and nonconformist woman: before tying herself to her historical partner Benedetta, who stood by her side until the very end, Marina Cicogna had famous loves with men and women. Among her most famous affairs was one with Brazilian actress Florinda Bolkan, which lasted 20 years, but she was also romantically linked to Alain Delon.
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