Taormina Art Award given to Paolo Villaggio

Paolo Villaggio was recognized for his long and successful film career. He is most remembered for his trademark character--the low-profile accountant Ugo Fantozzi—who emerged on the silver screen in a movie adaptation of a book, which was followed by several film sequels. The bumbling, servile Fantozzi endeared himself to the Italian public to the point that “Fantozzi" became part of the Italian language: "Fantozziano," is an adjective used to indicate a person that is clumsy or compliant, or to a situation that is tragic-comic.