The life of Oscar-winning filmmaker Anthony Minghella is to be celebrated at a thanksgiving service in Newport on Saturday April 26.
The service is being organised by the Isle of Wight Council with the agreement of Mr Minghella’s family. Mr Minghella was born in Ryde and remained a passionate ambassador for his native Island throughout his illustrious career.
In 1997 he was made a Freeman of the Island by the council in recognition of his achievements.
Details of the service are still being arranged but it will be held at Minster Church of Sts Thomas, Newport, on Saturday April 26 at 3pm.
The Minghella family has asked for a limited number of tickets to be made available to members of the public on a first come, first served basis. Applications for these tickets should be made from noon on Friday April 18, to the Isle of Wight Council’s civic office on 821000 or by email to [email protected]
Applications must be made by noon on Tuesday April 22.
Outgoing IW Council chairman Roger Mazillius, said: “Mr Minghella was a supremely talented and creative man who, despite his success, never forgot his roots and was a tremendous ambassador for the Island.
“Pride in his success was shared by everyone on the Island and he was an inspiration to a generation of young people here. It is only fitting and proper that the Island of which Anthony was so proud, celebrates his wonderful achievements.”
A statement from the Minghella family’ said: “We will miss Anthony more than we can say.
“Of course he was a brilliant director and writer, acclaimed worldwide for his amazing talents. But more than that, he was a wonderful son, husband, father, brother and uncle, who loved, and was loved, by all who knew him.
“His genius, and his gift of gentle human kindness, live on in his work and in the hearts of those he has so tragically left behind. He never forgot his Island roots, and was honoured to be made the first Freeman of the Isle of Wight.
“We look forward to celebrating his life with our Island “family” on the 26th April.”
Biography of Anthony Minghella.
Anthony Minghella was a loved, celebrated and multi-award winning director, producer and writer. His films have been nominated for 24 Academy Award Oscars and 36 BAFTA Awards. The English Patient (1996) alone won 33 awards including Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director. He wrote all nine of the television films in The Storyteller series for Jim Henson and NBC, which subsequently won awards all over the world, including an Emmy, BAFTA and the Gold Medal at the New York International Film and Television Festival. His radio plays Hang Up and Cigarettes and Chocolate won the Prix Italia in 1988 and the 1989 Giles Cooper Award & 1989 Sony Award, respectively.
Anthony’s first film as writer/director, Truly, Madly, Deeply, was a great success both in Britain and America, winning him several prizes including a BAFTA and a Writer’s Guild Award. His later film work included The Talented Mr Ripley (1999), which won him the Best Director Award from America’s National Board of Review, Cold Mountain (2003) and Breaking and Entering (2006), an original screenplay. Anthony also directed dance and opera, including the Olivier-award winning production of Madam Butterfly for the ENO and for the New York Metropolitan Opera.
Anthony was joint-owner with Sydney Pollack of Mirage Enterprises, producing projects such as Iris, The Quiet American, The Interpreter and most recently Michael Clayton. His last film was The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency for the BBC, screened at Easter, directed by Anthony, and co-written by him with Richard Curtis.
Anthony was also hugely active in charitable works. He helped raise thousands of pounds for Comic Relief, the Princes Trust and the Aids Foundation, among others, and he was proud to be a Samaritan.
Anthony was honoured by both the British and Italian governments. He received the CBE in the 2001 birthday honours, and the insignia of Commendatore of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2006. He was awarded honorary doctorates from the Universities of Hull, Southampton, Bournemouth and Reading.
