Double win for 'C’era una volta a Roma' at the Sergio Leone Awards

On December 15, 2025, at the Notebook bookstore within Rome’s Auditorium Parco della Musica, I had the distinct honor of receiving two first-prize awards at the Premio Sergio Leone 2025 for my novel, "C’era una volta a Roma"(Once Upon a Time in Rome). 

The accolades were presented in the Fiction category and a special non-competitive category titled MATRICE LEONE. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the President of Ipermedia, Carlo Pepe, for his inspiring opening remarks at this prestigious multimedia event, and to Art Director Fabrizio di Priamo, whose meticulous curation was evident throughout. They have successfully established a remarkable cultural milestone that I am certain will evolve, fostering and promoting new creative movements in the years to come.

I am deeply moved and profoundly grateful to the jury for their dedication in reviewing a 500-page manuscript. The setting was truly exceptional, and it was a privilege to be surrounded by the legendary figures of such an iconic cinematic era.

A particularly memorable moment occurred during the presentation of the MATRICE LEONE Award... With the legendary actor Gianni Garko in attendance, I took a directorial liberty and invited him to the stage. At ninety years of age, he rose with incredible vitality to perform a spontaneous rendition of the book’s plot for the audience! 

 To the jury, and to Carlo and Fabrizio: thank you for this extraordinary gift. It is heartening to see how many new connections this work is forging... A project that was never part of my original plans, but which providentially became my primary focus during the lockdowns of a few years ago. This novel is a piece of my heart captured on paper; that is the true essence of "C’era una volta a Roma".

Wishing you all a wonderful New Year. May you always strive for excellence.

Manuel de Teffé