Timothée Chalamet is getting the Italian red carpet treatment, this time for more than just a film premiere – The 29-year-old actor will be honored with the David for Cinematic Excellence at the 2025 David di Donatello Awards, Italy’s most prestigious film event and the country’s equivalent to the Oscars.
The ceremony is set to take place in Rome on May 7, 2025, where Chalamet will be celebrated for his contributions to global cinema, both as an indie darling and a mainstream powerhouse.
Piera Detassis, president of the Italian Cinema Academy, praised Chalamet in a statement:
“Timothée Chalamet’s European origins and American background make him one of the most unpredictable and talented protagonists of international cinema today, capable of being both an auteur performer and a star generating trends and styles.”
Detassis emphasized that Chalamet’s global breakthrough came through an Italian lens, his Oscar-nominated performance in Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me by Your Name, which premiered in 2017 and remains a touchstone for his career.
“It is important for us to remember how his worldwide recognition came about thanks to a wonderful Italian film… a match that David di Donatello is delighted to celebrate.”
The award acknowledges not just Chalamet’s acting skills but also his influence on modern cinema and youth culture. Known for blurring the lines between art-house cinema and box office hits, Chalamet has carved a unique space for himself, often redefining what leading men can look and sound like in the 2020s.
His recent roles underscore that dynamic range: he starred as Bob Dylan in the biopic A Complete Unknown, returned to box office domination in Dune: Part Two, and will next appear in Josh Safdie’s upcoming sports drama Marty Supreme.
The David di Donatello ceremony, which will be co-hosted by Elena Sofia Ricci and pop star Mika, has long honored global talent whose roots or impact are tied to Italian cinema. Chalamet’s return to Italy, this time as an honoree, is a full-circle moment that honors not just his resume but the cultural fusion that helped shape it.
While the event is expected to be star-studded, Chalamet’s appearance and speech may be one of the night’s most anticipated highlights.
More details on the full winners’ list and live broadcast are expected in the coming days.
