The American Academy in Rome celebrated twenty years of the McKim Medal Gala on June 4 at Villa Aurelia. Chaired by Beatrice Bulgari, the event honored filmmaker Giuseppe Tornatore and oncologist Virgilio Sacchini—two individuals whose work embodies the Academy’s mission of cultural and intellectual excellence. The sold-out evening raised over $800,000.00 which directly supports the Academy’s work to foster artistic and scholarly innovation in Rome.
Tornatore, the Academy Award-winning director of Cinema Paradiso (1988), shared that receiving the McKim Medal from the American Academy in Rome was rewarding. In his words, “the first film I saw, when I went to the cinema alone at the age of seven, was an American production. Since then, the flow of films from across the Atlantic has been uninterrupted, rich in inspiration and a source of desire.” Tornatore praised the role of institutions like the Academy in sustaining and supporting innovation.
Sacchini, whose transatlantic career as a surgeon, oncologist, and researcher connects Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York with the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, spoke of formative lessons that have shaped his path: the pursuit of excellence, the importance of empathy, and the responsibility to teach. “These three values,” he said, “are the essential cornerstones of a meaningful life.”
Beatrice Bulgari was joined by Calvin Tsao, 2010 Resident and Chair of the Board of Trustees; Peter N. Miller, President and CEO; Aliza S. Wong, Director, in welcoming guests. The 2025 McKim Medal Gala was held during a week of dynamic programming that included Open Stacks and Open Studios which reaffirmed the American Academy in Rome’s role as a catalyst for creative innovation and cross-cultural exchange.
