On June 4, the American Academy in Rome will present the McKim Medal to Virgilio Sacchini and Giuseppe Tornatore. The ceremony will take place at Villa Aurelia, just before sunset, in the same building that has housed the Academy on the Janiculum Hill since 1909. The award, which each year honors Italian figures who have contributed to the cultural dialogue between Italy and the United States, is not just about representation. It recognizes people whose work has built real bridges, across time, disciplines, and borders.
Sacchini is an oncologic surgeon with a long history of working in breast cancer prevention. Over the years, he has moved between France, Italy, and the United States, dividing his time among hospitals, research centers, and international study groups. At Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York, he has collaborated with organizations such as the EORTC (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer), the NASBP (National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project), and the RTOG (Radiation Therapy Oncology Group), helping to develop new approaches in chemoprevention and radiation therapy. In his research, cancer is never treated as just a disease. It is a social issue, one that involves patients, families, and the healthcare systems responsible for deciding who receives care—and how.
Tornatore received an Academy Award in 1990 for Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, a film about childhood, cinema, and life in small southern towns. Since then, he has continued to explore themes of memory, time, and family, directing films such as Malèna, Baarìa, The Best Offer, and Ennio. His work has involved collaborations with actors including Philippe Noiret, Monica Bellucci, Marcello Mastroianni, and Geoffrey Rush, and has maintained a strong connection to the places and emotional landscapes that shaped his vision.
The Gala is more than a celebration of two careers. It is also a moment for supporting the Italian Fellowships, the Academy’s grants reserved for Italian artists and scholars. The program is unique among foreign academies in Rome and, over the years, has allowed many different kinds of research and creative practices to take shape in a shared space.
Presiding over the evening will be Beatrice Bulgari, who has long been active in projects at the intersection of art, cinema, and cultural production. She will be joined by Academy President Peter N. Miller, Director Aliza S. Wong, Board Chair Calvin Tsao, and Honorary Gala Chairs Ginevra Elkann, Margherita Marenghi Vaselli, Carla Markell, and Maria Teresa Venturini Fendi. The evening will also include a reception—informal, but thoughtfully curated. Wines will be offered by Paolo and Noemia d’Amico and Château d’Esclans, while cocktails will be created by Quattro Gatti Gin.
Founded in 1894, the American Academy in Rome is the oldest U.S. cultural institution operating abroad. It has hosted hundreds of artists, architects, and scholars over the decades, many of whom have gone on to receive major awards such as the Nobel, Pulitzer, MacArthur, and Pritzker. Today, through its residency programs, exhibitions, lectures, and public events, the Academy remains a space where disciplines meet and conversations unfold over time. On the evening following the Gala, June 5, the Academy will open its doors to the public for the annual Open Studios, offering a chance to explore the work created by the current fellows during their time in Rome.
