The Matthew Online

Rome Film Festival Unspools

By Sonia Malpeso

ROME, Oct 16 - The third edition of Roma Film Fest kicked off on Oct. 22 with the return of internationally acclaimed movie stars and directors in a week-long celebration at the Auditorium Parco Della Musica.

The event’s title alteration, from last year’s “Cinema Festa Internazionale di Roma” to “Festival Internazionale del Film di Roma” was decided by new festival president, Gian Luigi Rondi, who wanted a stronger Italian identity. With notably fewer American stars appearing at this year’s event, the new philosophy seems to be putting a greater emphasis on Italian cinema rather than Hollywood.

The highlight of the festival is the “Cinema 2008” Selection, consisting of 14 European and International premieres which compete for two prizes: the "Marco Aurelio d'Oro" Award for Best Film of 75,000 euros, chosen by votes of the audience members, and the Premio della Critica (Citics’ Prize) for Best Film, awarded by a jury of international professionals. The jury will also preside in awarding prizes to the Best Actress and Best Actor. Al Pacino will be this year’s guest of honor, and will be the receiver of the Marc'Aurelio Alla Carriera Acting Award, given on behalf of Actor’s Studios. Previous recipients of the award included Sofia Loren (2007) and Sean Connery (2006).

One anticipated segment of the festival will be “L’altro Cinema/Extra,” incorporating screenings of independent and documentary films along with the opportunity for moviegoers to exchange dialogue with some of today’s most acclaimed actors and directors, including Al Pacino and David Cronenberg. “L’occhio del mondo/Focus,” is the section of the festival that is meant to capture and explore cultures from all over the world through music, art, and literature.  This year’s “Focus” is dedicated to Brazil, unraveling its national traits, through photography exhibitions, film screenings, and dance concerts. A special feature of the Brazil showcase will be the Italian-Brazilian co-production Estômago/Una storia gastronomica, directed by Marcos Jorge, which won 4 out of 6 prizes at the 2007 Rio Film Festival.

Two films kicked off the festival. The first is L’uomo che ama directed by Maria Sole Tognazzi, starring Monica Bellucci and Pierfrancesco Favino The second opening film will be the international film Huit/Eight, directed by eight world-famous filmmakers: Jane Campion, Gael Garcia Bernal, Jan Kounen, Mira Nair, Gaspar Noé, Abderrahmane Sissako, Gus Van Sant, and Wim Wenders, was inspired by the UN 8 Millennium Development Goals and its campaign to end global poverty.

      

Tickets for the festival can be purchased at the Ticket Office in the Auditorium Parco della Musica or at authorized ticket outlets. For more information regarding tickets, schedule, and transportation, visit the official website.

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"Velocità Massima" screening registers high praise at JCU

By Molly Robinson

ROME, Feb. 26 – Monday night’s showing of “Velocità Massima,” the breakthrough movie for Italian film director Daniele Vicari, at John Cabot University was a huge success attracting a standing-room only crowd.

The screening was compliments of Filmitalia, which presents a movie at JCU on the final Monday of every month. Students filled every seat and some stood in the back of the Aula Magna auditorium delightedly munching on cheese and sipping wine.

“Velocità Massima” has won a string of awards, one of which was the David Di Donatello for best directing debut since it was released in 2002.

Vicari, the director, was present at the screening on Monday night, and he opened with a brief description of his film.

 

For 85 minutes, the horrors of Darfur come to Rome

By Kriste Marciulionis

ROME, Feb. 19 - Former U.S. Marine captain Brian Steidle shot away with his 35mm camera as he watched Janjaweed militias burn the village of Labado to the ground.

Steidle, 27, began his assignment in September, 2004, where he spent six months as a U.S. military observer monitoring the ceasefire on behalf of the African Union in the Darfur region of western Sudan. Day to day, he helplessly recorded hell on earth. The Janjaweed Arab militia, backed by the Sudanese government, unleashed a mass scale genocide of African tribes, and all Steidle could do was watch.

“What does monitoring ceasefire really even mean?” Steidle’s narration echoed throughout the documentary. Steidle sent over 80 reports depicting the horrors he witnessed to the African Union; only four reports reached government officials in the United States.

The U.S Citizens for Peace and Justice in Italy screened the haunting documentary "The Devil Came on Horseback" on Sunday to usher in part seven of their Eyes Wide Open documentary series. The organization was created three years ago, on the second anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

JCU film fans explore the human side of the serial killer

 

By Laura Henry

ROME, 27 Nov. – Movies don’t necessarily need a plot, Italian film director Alex Infascelli told film fans on Monday night at John Cabot University’s ongoing film series, “La Meglio gioventù,” or “The Best of Youth.”

Infascelli’s first film "Almost Blue," which was released in 2000, was screened at last night’s event. Afterward, Infascelli commented on his movie.

“Films don’t have to make sense, not in a consequential way,” he said. “Nothing and no one makes sense in life.”

This approach to filmmaking was certainly apparent in his film adaptation of Carlo Lucarelli’s novel. Rather than a logical storyline, Infascelli presented a series of scenes and images that succeeds in shocking, terrifying, and stimulating his audience.

Sorrentino's first big box office hit screened at JCU film series

By Courtney Smith

 

ROME, 30 Oct. — “L’Uomo in Più,” the film that launched Italian director Paolo Sorrentino to  international acclaim, was screened Monday night at John Cabot University's ongoing “La Meglio Gioventù” film series with the film's producer on hand to discuss its making.

JCU Professor Peter Sarram introduced the film to students and film fans. In attendance was Nicola Giuliano, producer of "L'Uomo in Piu", ("One Man Up").

 

Film Series opens at JCU

By Courtney Smith

ROME 25 Sept. — Filmitalia’s presentation of “La Meglio Gioventù” (The Best of Youth) film series had a successful start on Monday with the independent film “Lacapagira” directed by Alessandro Piva.  It is one of seven films that will be screened every month in the Aula Magna auditorium at John Cabot University. 

Filmitalia is a company that aims to promote Italian cinema abroad.  It hopes to widen the role Italian cinema plays in the global audiovisual market.  The company works with all of the major international film festivals including those in Cannes, London, and New York.

The Best of Youth film series consists of a selection of first feature films made by young Italian directors, dating from 2000 to today.  The series is presented by Filmitalia in collaboration with the film critic Fabio Ferzetti.  Each film depicts stories of Italy through the lens of one generation of directors.   

The mean streets of Bari converge on JCU

By Alexa Magdalenski

ROME,  25 Sept. - Cinema should be done by people who love cinema.   

So says film director Alessandro Piva, whose first film “La Capagira,” (“The Head is Spinning”) introduced Filmitalia’s “Best of Youth” Film Series to John Cabot University on Monday night.

Piva’s love of cinema was evident in his honest portrayal of life in the Puglia city of Bari where his film is set. Also evident was his warm desire to let others in on how he made it.

Photo: Film director Alessandro Piva introduces his film as President Franco Pavoncello looks on.

Angels, demons and actors in the Eternal City

By Astrid Allard

ROME, Feb. 26 - After the $750 million box office success of last year's The Da Vinci Code, millions of fans have been breathlessly awaiting another encounter with Professor Robert Langdon to follow him once again in his adventures. The wait is almost over as shooting of the latest big screen adaptation for Dan Brown thriller Angels & Demons begins this spring in the Eternal City's famed Cinecittà studios.

Nuovomondo wins critical acclaim, illuminates family histories

By Shira Strassman

ROME, Dec. 5—Italians are getting a unique kind of history lesson at their local movie theaters this autumn thanks to film director Emanuele Crialese, who tells the story of early 20^th-century immigration from Italy to the U.S. in his film "Nuovomondo".

At the world premiere at the Venice Film Festival   it won the coveted Silver Lion award. And despite less-than-impressive ticket sales, it was chosen to represent Italy as its best foreign-language film for the 2006 Academy Awards.