Rome Film Fest, or Festa del Cinema di Roma, is one of the most important cinema events in the Italian capital and internationally. Every October, it gathers famous actors, directors, and industry professionals. Established in 2006, the festival has imposed itself as a premier event for cinema enthusiasts.
Events at the Fest
Rome Film Fest has a rich and diverse programme of screenings, retrospectives of famous directors and actors, master classes and panels with acknowledged cinema professionals, and various special events. The festival's award is a silver Marcus Aurelius statuette, a replica of the statue at Michelangelo's Campidoglio Square. The festival boasts world premieres every year. The audience gets to choose the winners in each section based on votes that take place after the screenings. There is also a jury that awards its own prize.
Sections
The Rome Film Festival presents a diverse lineup divided into distinct sections. Cinema d'Oggi showcases feature films, emphasizing world premieres with the audience voting for the People's Choice Award. Gala features prestigious premieres, while Mondo Genere highlights films from various genres, including premieres. Prospettive Italia introduces new trends in Italian cinema through premieres, with audience awards. Alice nella Città focuses on children's films with competitive sections for different age groups. These are the most important sections of the programme that feature many European and world premieres, films that highlight new trends and stand out for their originality.
Awards
At RIFF, awards are presented across various juried and audience choice categories, honoring films in genres like Narrative Feature, Narrative Short, Documentary Feature, Animated, Horror, Experimental, and Latin Film. The festival also recognizes outstanding acting with the Shay Bentley Griffin Award and presents Special Jury Awards.
Venue
The main venue of RIFF is the Auditorium Parco Della Musica, renowned for its red carpet promenade and luxurious screening rooms. Adjacent to this iconic location, the festival also hosts Business Street, a cinematographic marketplace located on Via Veneto, famously depicted in Federico Fellini's "La Dolce Vita."
