Armani funds World Cinema Foundation

Giorgio Armani is the major financial support for Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Foundation, which the director announced in Cannes on Tuesday. The non-profit organization is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of important neglected films hailing principally from Third World countries, i.e. those lacking the financing needed to refurbish classic films. ?

"I am honoured to have the support of my fellow filmmakers to help us achieve our goal of preserving the cinematic treasures of developing countries," Martin Scorsese told a press conference at the 60th Cannes Film Festival. ?He further stated: ??"I am also particularly honoured that my good friend, Giorgio Armani, has agreed to help us. His dedication to the preservation of Italian cinema is already well known through his participation as Executive Producer on my documentary "Il Mio Viaggio in Italia"," said Scorsese referring to his tribute to Italian cinema from the 1940s to the 1960s. ??

Armani, who is again working with Scorsese on a second documentary, a tribute to Italian cinema from the 1960s until today, will also serve as a member of the Board of Trustees. ??The friendship between Scorsese and Armani dates back to back to 1990, when the director filmed "Made in Milan", a short documentary on the designer.