Academy Award-winning actress Sophia Loren will accept the Sarasota Film Festival's 2016 Legend Award during her appearance in Sarasota at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on March 31. Following the presentation of the award, the audience will listen to an on-stage conversation between Loren and Entertainment Tonight's Bill Harris. The event will kick off the 2016 film festival, which continues through April 10.

"What an honor it is for the Sarasota Film Festival to bestow our Legend Award to the incredible, world-renowned talent Sophia Loren," Mark Famiglio, SFF president, said in a release. "Sophia's legacy and work is a true representation of the arts and culture that we strive to bring to this community year after year. As we enter our 18th festival, there is no better way to celebrate than to recognize the iconic Ms. Loren."

Loren won an Academy Award for best actress for her performance in La Ciociara (Two Women) in 1962; in 1991, she received an honorary Academy Award for much-lauded career. Her filmography includes ground-breaking work like It Started in Naples, Matrimonio All'Italiana (Marriage Italian Style), Pret-a-Porter, Man of La Mancha and Nine. 

SFF's Legend Award is presented annually; past recipients have included Robert Altman, Sidney Pollack, Jane Seymour and Rachel Weisz, among many others. More details about this year's festival are forthcoming; visit sarasotafilmfestival.com for news and updates.