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ROME 2012 Awards

Rome: Marfa Girl, E la chiamano estate and Alì come out as winners

- Controversial awards for a festival coming to a close with lower audience rates profits

Defying predictions and criticism, Rome Film Festival’s international jury, chaired by Jeff Nichols, gave the Golden Marc’Aurelio d'Oro for best film to Marfa Girl by the American Larry Clark (photo). The Award for Best Director went to Paolo Franchi for E la chiamano estate [+see also:
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. The latter attracted wide criticism from the Italian press (read the article) during screening and its press conference. The jury went further still, awarding Isabella Ferrari as best actress. The Jury Special Prize went to Alì ha gli occhi azzurri [+see also:
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interview: Claudio Giovannesi
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by Claudio Giovannesi, which was also elected Best Debut film by a jury presided over by Matthew Modine.

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Jury member Valentina Cervi defended the decision for awarding E la chiamano estate, describing it "an imperfect, but brave film, we didn’t want to honour reassuring, mindlessly pleasing films.” Another jury member, P.J. Hogan, added: “we found ourselves torn, just like the public. Beautiful or ugly, this film doesn’t leave you indifferent."

The Alice in the City jury (a successful event with 18,806 spectators: 3,000 more than last year) gave its main award to My Sweet Orange Tree by Marcos Bernstein. The Jury Special Prize went to Pulce non c’è [+see also:
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by Giuseppe Bonito, the only Italian film in competition during Alice in the City.

Among a thousand controversies, Marco Muller’s festival directing debut was marked by a drop by 25% in profits, despite tickets being more expensive. “Presented films were applauded every night. We managed to make many new ideas and methods on how cinema can be done circulate,” Muller said.


AWARDS FOR FILMS IN COMPETITION
Golden Marc’Aurelio d'Oro for Best Film: Marfa Girl by Larry Clark
Best Director Award: Paolo Franchi for E la chiamano estate
Special Jury Prize: Alì ha gli occhi azzurri by Claudio Giovannesi
Best Actor Award: Jérémie Elkaïm for Main dans la main [+see also:
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Best Actress Award: Isabella Ferrari for E la chiamano estate
Best Emerging Actor or Actress Award: Marilyne Fontaine for Un enfant de toi [+see also:
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Best Technical Contribution: Arnau Valls Colomer for his photography in Mai morire
Best Screenplay Award: Noah Harpster and Micah Fitzerman-Blue for The Motel Life

AWARDS FOR FILMS IN THE CINEMAXXI COMPETITION
CinemaXXI Award (for feature-length films): Avanti Popolo by Michael Wahrmann
Special Jury Prize – CinemaXXI (for feature-length films): Picas by Laila Pakalnina
CinemaXXI Award for Short and Medium Films: Panihida by Ana-Felicia Scutelnicu

AWARDS IN THE
ITALIAN PERSPECTIVES COMPETITION
Perspectives Award for Best Feature Film: Cosimo e Nicole [+see also:
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by Francesco Amato
Perspectives Award for Best Documentary: Pezzi by Luca Ferrari
Perspectives Award for Best Short Film: Il gatto del Maine by AntonelloSchioppa
Special Mentions: Cosimo Cinieri, in memory of Anna Orso for La prima legge di Newton

AWARD FOR BEST DEBUT AND SECOND FILM
Award for Best Debut and Second Film: Alì ha gli occhi azzurri by Claudio Giovannesi
Special Mention: Razzabastarda by Alessandro Gassman

BNL AUDIENCE AWARD
Audience Award for Best Film: The Motel Life by Gabriel Polsky, Alan Polsky

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