04/04/2006

Independent films from around the world have a rendezvous at the sixth edition of the Roma Independent Film Festival (RIFF), to be held April 7-14. With a selection of over 75 titles (features, short films and documentaries), chosen from 1,000 submissions from 70 countries, RIFF will award prizes totalling €50,000.

The festival opens Friday with Short Order [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Anthony Byrne, starring Vanessa Redgrave and John Hurt, and presented by the director. That same day, indie cinema will be represented by Ad Project, by Eros Puglielli, who will show how a new production approach can revive Italian cinema.

Norwegian cinema will be in the spotlight on Saturday, with the screening of Kissed By Winter (Vinterkyss) by Sara Johnsen, who will be onhand to present her film to audiences. Sunday, April 9, will be entirely dedicated to the subject of human rights, with the screening of the documentary by Amos Gitai, News from Home, which will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker.

On Monday, a special program has been scheduled, to promote and distribute Spanish films in Italy, bringing audiences the latest films from emerging directors, including Jordì Sol’s El taxista Ful, which won a Special Mention at last year’s San Sebastian Film Festival.

Last, but certainly not least, homage will be paid to Pablo, the independent production company run by Gianluca Arcopinto, who will present the docu-film Io sono un cittadino (lit. “I Am a Citizen”) by Peter Marcias.

(Translated from Italian)