By Natascha Rivera
Copyright euroweeklynews
NEXT month, the Rome Film Fest will celebrate its 20th edition with 12 film-filled days of entertainment in the Italian capital. From October 15 to October 26, the Film Fest will take the Auditorium Parco della Musica and other venues throughout Rome through a stunning journey of audiovisual art, with more than 150 films from 38 different countries scheduled for screening and 18 in competition, including 4 Italian titles.
A star-studded affair
The Rome Film Fest, directed by Paola Malanga, will accommodate premieres, screenings of popular films, restored films, exhibitions, previews of series and films, masterclasses, and of course, very special guests. The Film Fest will also feature one of the largest red carpets in the world, and upon it, big-name film stars and directors. Some of the most anticipated appearances at the event include American actress Jennifer Lawrence, Italian actress Matilda De Angelis, Scottish actor James McAvoy, and Austrian-German actor Christoph Walz.
Achievement awards for influential artists
At the event, two Industry Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented: one to Iranian director Jafar Panahi, whose award will be given by Oscar-winning fellow director Giuseppe Tornatore, and the other to acclaimed film producer Lord David Puttnam. The award is a prestigious recognition for those in the global film industry who have left a mark on the history of film with their talents, hard work, and creativity. The award will be presented by producer, director, screenwriter, and longtime collaborator and friend to Mr Puttnam, Uberto Pasolini.
Additionally, for the first time in the Festival’s history, the Best Documentary Prize will also be awarded, by the jury, headed by Romanian director, cinematographer, editor, and producer Alexander Nanau and composed of director and screenwriter Santiago Maza and producer Nadia Trevisan.
Another recognition sponsored by humanitarian organisation, Save The Children, will also be awarded.
Long-awaited, thought-provoking films
Some of the most anticipated screenings at the event include Couture, produced by and starring Angelina Jolie; Moss & Freud, produced by Kate Moss; and Paolo Virzì’s new film Cinque secondi, starring Valerio Mastandrea. The event will also include tributes to Pier Paolo Pasolini, special effects legend Carlo Rambaldi, and photographer Franco Pinna, whose photo of the set of Fellini’s film, Giulietta degli Spiriti (1965) is the official poster of the festival.
Said President of Fondazione Cinema per Roma, Salvatore Nastasi, “The goal is to surpass last year’s 110,000 attendees and make the festival a home for independent filmmakers. Looking at the film list, I think we’ve achieved that.”
All in all, the 20th edition of the Rome Film Fest will not only be a celebration of the incredible art of filmmaking, which impacts us in ways impossible to describe, but will also be a recognition of Italian culture and heritage in one of the most desirable and historic cities of Europe.
