Rome: International Film Festival, 15

nal Film Festival, 15 — 23 October 2009section “L’altro cinema — Extra”,
Also this year Rome is ready to welcome the greatthis year including a retrospective dedicated to Meryl
Italian and international cinema, with the fourth editionStreep, the great American actress that has
of the International Film Festival.  delighted and touched us with her brilliant
The International Rome Film Festival will take placeperformances, and who will be awarded the Golden
from the 15th to the 23rd of October in variousMarc'Aurelio Acting Award during the festival, and a
venues and cinemas all around Rome (theretrospective dedicated to Luigi Zampa (do not miss
headquarters of the event will be, as usual, thethe screening of the restored version of “La
Auditorium Parco della Musica), which will host theRomana”, Zampa’s 1954 film starring Gina
screening of over 130 films, documentaries and shortLollobrigida). The section “Alice nella città”,
films. Such a big offer will certainly satisfy the greatincluding 12 films dedicated to children and kids, can
number of cinema lovers that have purchased aboutbe seen as a little festival inside the festival, in which
20,000 tickets after the first week of pre-sale, andbudding film lovers will not be passive spectators, on
that will probably book 2 stars hotels in Rome, a citythe contrary, they will play an active role, awarding
that now can offer something more to its tourists.prizes to the best works. Last but not least, the
The secret of the success of the festival, whichsection “Occhio sul mondo” will give visitors,
makes it differ from other film festivals, is to bewho usually choose discount accommodation, the
found in the variety of its programme, which includespossibility to deal with some important nowadays
both cultured and popular films, both works realisedissues. This year the focus will be on environment,
by emerging artists and movies featuring greatwith particular attention on climate change.
international stars. And the festival, indeed, does notTo make the programme of the event even richer
attract only those who have a passion for theand more diversified, many special events will take
seventh art, but also those people that cannot beplace during the festival: from the concert of Avion
described as the regulars of film festivals, and whoTravel, who will pay homage to Nino Rota 30 years
might decide to travel to Rome for reasons otherafter his death, playing 14 pieces taken from the
than watching films.soundtracks of some great movies, to various
The films projected during the Rome festival areexhibitions (including one exhibition dedicated to
traditionally divided in different categories: besides theSergio Leone, one dedicated to Antonio Ligabue, and
official selection, which includes those films thatthe exhibition “Cape Farewell: Art and Climate
compete for Marc’Aurelio Awards (best film,Change”), to a number of debates and workshops
best actor, best actress, Silver Marc’Aureliodealing with important themes about the world of
Grand Jury Award), very interesting is also thecinema.