Gianni Minà

Gianni Minà was an Italian journalist, writer, magazine editor and television host whose career spanned more than six decades, leaving an indelible mark on both Italian media and international documentary filmmaking. Born in Turin on 17 May 1938, he began his journalistic path in 1959 with the sports newspaper Tuttosport, later rising to editor‑in‑chief from 1996 to 1998, and quickly expanded his scope to television, reporting for RAI during the Rome Olympic Games in 1960. Over the years Minà covered eight World Cups, seven Olympic Games and countless boxing matches, most famously chronicling the career of Muhammad Ali, and he built a reputation for deep, immersive reporting that crossed cultural and political borders. In the mid‑1970s he co‑created the innovative TV show L'altra domenica, and by 1976 he was a permanent fixture on TG2, where his coverage of boxing opened doors to stories about American show business, social conflicts and minority groups. Minà’s fascination with Latin America led him to produce landmark documentaries on figures such as Che Guevara, Fidel Castro, Rigoberta Menchú, Subcomandante Marcos and Diego Maradona, many of which premiered at prestigious festivals like Venice and Berlinale. His 1987 16‑hour interview with Castro resulted in the bestselling book Fidel and inspired the documentary Fidel Racconta il Che. He also authored acclaimed series such as Alta Classe, Zona Cesarini, Una storia del Jazz and the 14‑episode Facce piene di pugni, each showcasing his talent for blending investigative depth with cinematic storytelling. Beyond the screen, Minà edited the literary journal Latinoamerica e tutti i sud del mondo and oversaw the Continente desaparecido book series, amplifying the voices of Latin American intellectuals. His contributions earned him numerous honors, including the 1981 Saint Vincent Prize, the 2004 Montreal World Film Festival first prize, the 2007 Berlinale Kamera Career Prize and the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Seville Film Festival. Gianni Minà passed away from heart disease on 27 March 2023, leaving a legacy of fearless journalism, cultural bridge‑building and a prolific body of work that continues to inspire new generations of reporters and filmmakers.