Francesco Saussay’s drunken, feel-good drama Another one for the road (Piano City) was the big winner at Italy’s David di Donatello Awards, sweeping the ceremony held at Cinecittà Studios in Rome on Wednesday night, taking home eight awards including best film and best director.
The road movie, which premieres in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section in 2025, stars Sergio Romano and Pierpaolo Capovilla as fifty men from the Veneto region of northern Italy, who strike up an unlikely friendship with a shy student from Naples, played by Filippo Scotti.
The film entered the night as a front-runner with 16 nominations, also winning awards for Best Actor for Romano, Original Screenplay, Editing, Original Song, Acting and Producer.
Other multiple winners include the debut of opera director Damiano Micheletto Primaveraa drama set in Venice inspired by Antonio Vivaldi that won four awards, including Best Score and Best Costumes.
World War II drama by Silvio Soldini Tasters (Angina(The film), which revolves around a group of young women forced to work as food tasters for Adolf Hitler while living in constant fear of poisoning, won three awards, including the Adapted Screenplay Award and the David Giovanni Youth Award.
Martial arts action thriller directed by Gabriele Mainetti Forbidden City (La Citta Proepita) It also won three awards, including cinematography, production design and visual effects.
Paul Thomas Anderson, winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture Battle after battle It won a David Award for Best International Film. Anderson was not present to receive the award.
Among the honorary awards, Academy Award-winning cinematographer Vittorio Storaro received a special Cinecittà David Award in recognition of a career that includes work on a Francis Ford Coppola film. Apocalypse nowBernardo Bertolucci The last emperor And Warren Beatty RedsIn addition to collaborating with filmmakers including Dario Argento, Woody Allen, Carlos Saura, Richard Donner, Alfonso Arau and Paul Schrader.
Veteran Italian director Gianni Amelio (Stolen children, For America) was honored with a Career David Award, while animator and director Bruno Bozzetto received a Special David Award.
The David dello Spettatore Award, winner of the year’s biggest domestic box office hit, went to Gennaro Nunziante’s hit comedy. Buen CaminoStarring Checco Zalone, although neither the director nor the actor attended the ceremony.
2026 David Di Donatello Prize Winners
Best movie
The last one for the road (Piano City) – Produced by Marta Donzelli and Gregorio Paonessa for Vivo Film, with Rai Cinema, in association with Philipp Crozier for Maze Pictures and Cecilia Trautvetter; Directed by Francesco Sausai
Best director
Francesco Sausai — The last one for the road (Piano City)
Best first feature
Margherita Spampinato — Goya mia
Best Original Screenplay
Francesco Sausai and Adriano Candiago – The last one for the road (Piano City)
Best Adapted Screenplay
Doriana Leondef, Silvio Soldini, Lucio Ricca, Cristina Comincini, Giulia Calinda, Ilaria Macchia – Tasters (Angina)
Best product
Marta Donzelli and Gregorio Paonessa for Vivo Film, with Rai Cinema, in collaboration with Philipp Crozier for Maze Pictures and Cecilia Trautvetter — The last one for the road (Piano City)
Best Actress
Aurora Quattrocchi — Goya mia
Best Actor
Sergio Romano — The last one for the road(Piano City)
Best Supporting Actress
Matilda de Angelis — outside (immediate)
Best Supporting Actor
Lino Musella — unusual
Best casting
Adriano Candiago — The last one for the road (Piano City)
Best cinematography
Paolo Carnera — Forbidden City (La Citta Proepita)
Best result
Fabio Massimo Capogrosso — spring (Primavera)
Best original song
“Ti” written and performed by Crano – The last one for the road (Piano City)
Best production design
Andrea Castorina and Marco Martucci — Forbidden City (La Citta Proepita)
Best fashion design
Maria Rita Barbera and Gaia Calderon — Primavera
Best makeup
My name is Sciaroni — Tasters (Angina)
Best hairdresser
Marta Iacoboni — Primavera
Best editing
Paolo Cotignola — The last one for the road (Piano City)
Best sound
Location Voice: Gianluca Scarlata; Sound editing: Davide Favargiotti; Sound design: Daniele Quadroli; Re-recording mix: Nadia Pawnee — Primavera
Best visual effects
Stefano Leoni and Andrea Lo Priori – Forbidden City (La Citta Proepita)
Best Documentary Feature (David Cecilia Mangini Award)
Roberto Rossellini – Best LifeDirected by Ilaria De Laurentiis, Andrea Paolo Massara and Raffaele Brunetti
Best short film
Every day in Gaza– Directed by Omar Rammal
Youth Award
Tasters (Angina) Directed by Silvio Soldini
Best international film
Battle after battledirected by Paul Thomas Anderson
David Dello Spitator
Buen Caminodirected by Gennaro Nunziante
David’s profession
Gianni Amelio
David special
Bruno Bozzetto
Cinecittà David Special Award 71
Vittorio Storaro
