18th Rome Film Festival
The 18th Rome Film Festival took place from 18 to 29 October 2023 in the Auditorium Parco della Musica, Rome. The festival programme was unveiled by Gian Luca Farinelli, the chair of the Rome Cinema Foundation on 22 September 2023. It opened with There's Still Tomorrow the directorial debut film of Italian actress, screenwriter Paola Cortellesi.
The official image of the event was dedicated to Anna Magnani, on the occasion of fiftieth anniversary of her death, which was taken from the press conference for the Oscar for Best Actress in 1956, awarded for her performance in 1955 film The Rose Tattoo. In addition to the main screenings at the Renzo Piano-designed auditorium, screenings were also held in various other venues, including a program of fresh films and talks in local penitentiaries.
The award ceremony took place on 28 October at the Auditorium Parco della Musica. Progressive Cinema Competition Award for Best Film was awarded to Toll, a Brazilian-Portuguese drama film by Carolina Markowicz. Shigeru Umebayashi, a Japanese composer, and Isabella Rossellini, an Italian-American actress and model, were honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award.
Events
- Masterclass: A journey through the careers, lives and works of famous stars of the big screen.
- * Isabella Rossellini, recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award
- * Shigeru Umebayashi, recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award
- * Michel Gondry
- Absolute Beginners: Successful authors recall the story of their debut in cinema.
- * Giuseppe Tornatore
- * Gianfranco Rosi
- Paso Doble: Dialogue and confrontation on stage between two authors.
- * Emma Dante, Elena Stancanelli
- * Lisandro Alonso, Alessio Rigo De Righi
Jury
Progressive Cinema Competition Award
- Gael García Bernal, Mexican actor and filmmaker – president
- Sarah Gavron, British film director.
- Mikko Myllylahti, director, Finland
- Melvil Poupaud, French actor, director and screenwriter
- Jasmine Trinca, Italian actress and director
Best First Work Award BNL BNP Paribas
- Paolo Virzì, director – president
- Adeline Fontan Tessaur, producer
- Abi Morgan, screenwriter
Ugo Tognazzi Award for Best Comedy
- Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, actress – president
- Alessandro Aronadio, director and screenwriter
- Lisa Nur Sultan, screenwriter
SIAE Cinema Award
- Nicola Guaglianone, screenwriter – president
- Carlo Cresto-Dina, film producer
- Pivio, Italian composer
Official sections
Progressive Cinema Competition – Visions for the World of Tomorrow
Un amor, directed by Isabel Coixet Achilles, directed by Farhad Delaram – first workAvant que les flammes ne s'eteignent, directed by Mehdi Fikri – first workBlack Box, directed by Aslı Özge There's Still Tomorrow, directed by Paola Cortellesi – first work – Like a Son, directed by Nicolas Boukhrief En dag kommer allt det här bli ditt, directed by Andreas Öhman The Erection of Toribio Bardelli, directed by Adrián Saba Fremont, directed by Babak Jalali Holiday, directed by Edoardo Gabbriellini The Hypnosis, directed by Ernst De Geer – first workMy Hair Hurts, directed by Roberta Torre The Monk and the Gun, directed by Pawo Choyning Dorji Toll, directed by Carolina Markowicz – first workDeath Is a Problem for the Living, directed by Teemu Nikki A Silence, directed by Joachim Lafosse Sweet Sue, directed by Leo Leigh – first featureBlaga's Lessons, directed by Stephan KomandarevFreestyle
Film
- Accattaroma, directed by Daniele Costantini
- They Lost the Pianist, directed by Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal – animation
- The Immortals, directed by Anne Riitta Ciccone
- Jeʹvida, directed by Katja Gauriloff Mother, Couch, directed by Niclas Larsson – first work
- The Persian Version, directed by Maryam Keshavarz
- In Search, directed by Giulio Base
- Signs of Life, directed by Leandro Picarella – documentary
- Too Blue, directed by Filippo Barbagallo – first work
- Wanted, directed by Fabrizio Ferraro
TV series
The Lions of Sicily, directed by Paolo Genovese, 2 episodes The Sea Beyond, 4th season, directed by Ivan Silvestrini, 2 episodes La Storia, directed by Francesca Archibugi, 1 episode- Suburræterna, directed by Ciro D'Emilio and Alessandro Tonda, 2 episodes
Great Public
A Hundred Sundays, directed by Antonio Albanese Cottontail, directed by Patrick Dickinson – first featureFrom the Top of a Cold Tower, directed by Francesco Frangipane – first workDiabolik: Who Are You?, directed by Manetti Bros. Dream Scenario, directed by Kristoffer Borgli Eileen, directed by William Oldroyd The End We Start From, directed by Mahalia Belo – first workEt la fête continue, directed by Robert Guédiguian Fingernails, directed by Chrīstos Nikou Gonzo Girl, directed by Patricia Arquette Jules, directed by Marc Turtletaub The Boy and the Heron, directed by Hayao Miyazaki Winter Lemons, directed by Caterina Carone Nuovo Olimpo, directed by Ferzan Özpetek Palazzina Laf, directed by Michele Riondino – first workThe Performance, directed by Shira Piven The Royal Hotel, directed by Kitty Green Saltburn, directed by Emerald Fennell Second Tour, directed by Albert Dupontel Te l'avevo detto, directed by Ginevra Elkann Volare, directed by Margherita Buy – first workWidow Clicquot, directed by Thomas NapperSpecial screenings
The Compass - The Star Collector, directed by Andrea Soldani – documentaryEnigma Rol, directed by Anselma Dell'Olio – documentaryHigh & Low - John Galliano, directed by Kevin Macdonald – documentaryThe Empire of Nature. A Night at the Colosseum Park, directed by Luca Lancise and Marco Gentili – documentaryMe, Us and Gaber, directed by Riccardo Milani – documentaryKripton, directed by Francesco Munzi – documentary- Maria Callas. Letters and Memoirs, directed by Tom Volf and Yannis Dimolitsas – documentaryThe Eternal Memory, directed by Maite Alberdi – documentaryMisericordia, directed by Emma Dante Mur, directed by Kasia Smutniak – documentaryMay I Come in? An ode to Naples, directed by Trudie Styler – documentaryRome, Holy and Damned, directed by Roberto D'Agostino, Marco Giusti and Daniele Ciprì – documentaryFour Fifths, directed by Stefano Urbanetti – documentaryRule of Two Walls, directed by David Gutnik – documentaryCarrozzanti and spiritelli. 50 years of life of the Teatro Franco Parenti, directed by Michele Mally – documentaryMany Faces in Memory, directed by Francesca Comencini Unfitting, directed by Giovanna Mezzogiorno – short filmMen on the March, directed by Peter Marcias – documentaryVia Sicilia 57/59. Giorgio Albertazzi. Theatre is life, directed by Pino Strabioli and Fabio Masi – documentarySugar - Sugar Fornaciari, directed by Valentina Zanella and Giangiacomo De Stefano – documentary
Absolute beginners
Boatman - Voyage on the Ganges, directed by Gianfranco Rosi – documentaryIl Camorrista - The Series, directed by Giuseppe Tornatore – TV series, episodes 1 and 4Best of 2023
- Anatomy of a Fall, directed by Justine Triet Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg, directed by Alexis Bloom and Svetlana Zill – documentaryLa chimera, directed by Alice Rohrwacher Eureka, directed by Lisandro Alonso Firebrand, directed by Karim Aïnouz Kiss the Future, directed by Nenad Cicin-Sain – documentary
- Orlando, My Political Biography, directed by Paul B. Preciado – documentary
- The Taste of Things, directed by Trần Anh Hùng Past Lives, directed by Celine Song The Zone of Interest, directed by Jonathan Glazer
History of cinema
Homage to Isabella Rossellini
Animals Distract Me, directed by Isabella Rossellini – documentaryDarwin, What?, directed by Isabella Rossellini, Paul David Magid – short filmFox Film, directed by Isabella Rossellini – short filmGreen Porno, directed by Jody Shapiro and Isabella Rossellini, 18 episodes – TV seriesMammas, directed by Isabella Rossellini, 10 episodes – TV seriesSeduce Me, directed by Isabella Rossellini, 10 episodes – TV seriesBlue Velvet, directed by David Lynch Death Becomes Her, directed by Robert Zemeckis Left Luggage, directed by Jeroen Krabbé My Dad Is 100 Years Old, directed by Guy Maddin – short filmThe Saddest Music in the World, directed by Guy Maddin Another Side of Sunday Isabella Rossellini's Reports from New York – TV ProgramAutumn Sonata, directed by Ingmar Bergman – chosen by Isabella RosselliniStromboli, directed by Roberto Rossellini – chosen by Isabella RosselliniA Season with Isabella Rossellini, directed by Marian Lacombe – documentaryLa chimera, directed by Alice Rohrwacher – Best of 2023 sectionHomage to Shigeru Umebayashi
Shigeru Umebayashi is a Japanese composer.In the Mood for Love, directed by Wong Kar-wai House of Flying Daggers, directed by Zhang Yimou A Single Man, directed by Tom FordHomage to Maria Grazia Buccella
Maria Grazia Buccella is an Italian actress, glamour model and beauty pageant titleholder.Just Look at Her, directed by Luciano Salce Dismissed on His Wedding Night, directed by Ugo TognazziHomage to Jean-Luc Godard
Jean-Luc Godard a French and Swiss film director, screenwriter, and film critic.Godard par Godard, directed by Florence Platarets – documentaryTribute to Lorenza Mazzetti
Lorenza Mazzetti was an Italian film director, novelist, photographer and painter.- The Country Doctor, directed by Lorenza Mazzet – short film
- K , directed by Lorenza Mazzetti – short film
- Together, directed by Lorenza Mazzetti – medium-length filmTogether with Lorenza Mazzetti, directed by Brighid Lowe – documentary
Restorations
Hello Nì!, directed by Paolo Poeti Folgore Division, directed by Duilio Coletti The Way of the Dragon, directed by Bruce Lee The Flavor of Green Tea over Rice, directed by Yasujirō Ozu The Scent of the Night, directed by Claudio Caligari Ovosodo, directed by Paolo Virzì Underground, directed by Emir KusturicaDocumentaries
American Badass: A Michael Madsen Retrospective, directed by Dominique Milano Chambre 999, directed by Lubna Playoust Une chronique americanine, directed by Alexandre Gouzo and Jean-Claude Taki Fellini, l'entretien retrouvé, directed by Jean-Christophe Rosé Me, the Pipe and the Pizzas, directed by Ugo Gregoretti Joseph Losey, l'outsider, directed by Dante Desarthe Kennedy in Rome, directed by Ciro Giorgini He was Trinity, directed by Dario Marani Our Monument Valley, directed by Alberto Crespi and Steve Della Casa Deep Silver, directed by Giancarlo Rolandi and Steve Della Casa That Damned Film About Virzì, directed by Stefano Petti The Return of Maciste, directed by Maurizio Sciarra The Voice Without a Face, directed by Filippo SoldiAwards and winners
Lifetime Achievement Award- * Shigeru Umebayashi
- * Isabella RosselliniProgressive Lifetime Achievement Award
- * Haley Bennett
- * Camila Morrone
Progressive Cinema Competition
- * Best Film: Toll by Carolina Markowicz, Brazil, Portugal
- * Grand Jury Prize: Blaga's Lessons by Stephan Komandarev, Bulgaria, Germany
- * Best Director: Joachim Lafosse for A Silence, Belgium, France, Luxembourg
- * Monica Vitti Prize for Best Actress: Alba Rohrwacher for Mi fanno male i capelli, Italy
- * Vittorio Gassman Prize for Best Actor: Herbert Nordrum, The Hypnosis, Sweden, Norway, France
- *Best Screenplay: Asli Özge for Black Box, Germany, Belgium
- * Special Jury Prizes
- ** Achilles, Farhad Delaram, Iran, Germany, France
- ** There's Still Tomorrow, Paola Cortellesi, Italy
- ** The Monk and the Gun, Pawo Choyning Dorji, Bhutan, France USA, TaiwanBNL BNP Paribas Prize for Best First Film: Cottontail, Patrick Dickinson Special Mentions
- * There's Still Tomorrow, Paola Cortellesi
- * After the Fire, Mehdi Fikri, France"Ugo Tognazzi" Prize for Best Comedy Jules, Marc Turtletaub Special Mention Asta Kamma August, Herbert Nordrum for The HypnosisAudience Award There's Still Tomorrow, Paola CortellesiSIAE Cinema Prize Il primo figlio, Mara Fondacaro, Italy
Alice nella città
Best Film: The Other Son, Juan Sebastián Quebrada, Colombia, France, ArgentinaRaffaella Fioretta Prize for Best Italian Film in the Panorama Italy Competition Desiré, Mario Vezza, ItalySpecial Jury Prize Bangarang, Giulio Mastromauro, ItalyThe Hollywood Reporter Rome Prize To Leslie Michael Morris, United States Special Mention for Best Actor Miguel Gonzalez for The Other SonSpecial Mention for Best Actress Mia McKenna-Bruce for How to Have Sex, United Kingdom, Greece, BelgiumSpecial Mention for Progressive Direction Gianluca Santoni for Io e il secco, Italy, Costa RicaRB Casting Prize for Best Young Italian Actor Amanda Campana for Suspicious Minds, Italy, FranceOnde Corte Audience Award Fake Shot, Francesco Castellaneta, ItalyShorts Film DaysSIAE Prize for Best Project Presented in the Unbox Laboratory' ''Chiedo scusa'', Francesco Piras, Italy