Sad news. The Hollywood Reporter reports that Peter Brunette, author of the recent University of Illinois Press book Michael Haneke, died today in Italy. He was on assignment covering the Taormina Film Festival. 

“The news of his death sent ripples through the festival and the Italian film community. The festival canceled its early-evening press cocktail reception, and festival artistic director Deborah Young said she would make an announcement and call for a moment of silence in honor of Brunette before the evening’s screening in the Teatro Antico.”

Our thoughts go out to his family and friends.