Revealed the program of the 19th Rome Film Fest

Today, September 20, 2024, during a press conference at the Teatro Olimpico in Rome, the full program of the 19th edition of the Rome Film Fest was unveiled, set to take place from October 16 to 27, 2024. This year, the event celebrates the centenary of the birth of Marcello Mastroianni, one of the greatest icons of Italian and international cinema, with a retrospective and an official image depicting him on the set of Federico Fellini’s masterpiece, “8½.”

Over the years, the Rome Film Fest has become a landmark in the international landscape, thanks to a carefully curated selection that attracts cinephiles, industry professionals, and big-screen stars worldwide every year. With a mix of world premieres, masterclasses, and special screenings, this 19th edition promises to deliver strong emotions and high-level cinematic insights.

Sections of the Fest: An Overview of the Most Anticipated Films

This year’s program is particularly rich, featuring six official sections that range from crowd-pleasers to experimental works by emerging directors. Here are the details of the main sections:

1. Progressive Cinema Competition – Visions for the World of Tomorrow

The festival’s most prestigious competitive section, the Progressive Cinema Competition, hosts 18 international films exploring visions of the future, reflecting on the challenges and hopes of the contemporary world. This section includes fiction films, documentaries, and animations.

Among the most anticipated titles are:

• “100 Litres of Gold” by Teemu Nikki is a Finnish tragicomedy mixing family rivalries and local traditions.
• “L’albero” by Sara Petraglia is a delicate Italian debut exploring the anxieties and hopes of a young generation searching for identity.
• “Bring Them Down” by Christopher Andrews is a rural drama set in Ireland, starring Christopher Abbott and Barry Keoghan, depicting the complexities of family relationships in a bucolic context.
• “Greedy People” by Potsy Ponciroli is a grotesque noir that pays homage to the Coen brothers, featuring one of their favourite actors, Tim Blake Nelson, along with Lily James and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

The films in the competition will be evaluated by a jury of international cinema and culture professionals, who will award prizes in categories such as Best Film, Grand Jury Prize, Best Director, Best Screenplay, as well as acting awards like the Monica Vitti Award for Best Actress and the Vittorio Gassman Award for Best Actor.

2. Freestyle

This non-competitive section offers a showcase for free-format and style works, from feature films to music videos and video art to television series. It celebrates creative and experimental freedom, including titles such as:

• “Arsa” by the duo MASBEDO is a film set on Stromboli that combines image and word in a unique and visually powerful narrative.
• “Grand Theft Hamlet” by Pinny Grylls and Sam Crane is a brilliant and original reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet set within the “Grand Theft Auto” video game, blending classic theatre with pop culture.
• “Cì Xīn Qiè Gǔ (Pierce)” by Nelicia Low – A psychological thriller showcasing a complex relationship between two fencing-obsessed brothers based on a true story.
• “Ciao Bambino” by Edgardo Pistone – Another Italian debut set in the challenging Neapolitan neighbourhood of Rione Traiano, following young Attilio, tasked with protecting a young prostitute with whom he develops a secret emotional bond.
• “Marko Polo” by Elisa Fuksas – An experimental work blending cinema and autobiography, where director Elisa Fuksas confronts her family and cultural heritage, addressing personal themes like illness and relationships.

3. Grand Public

Dedicated to the general audience, this section presents internationally appealing films for a wide audience. Among this year’s premieres are:

• “The Dead Don’t Hurt” by Viggo Mortensen – a refined feminist western set in 19th-century America, featuring Mortensen himself and Vicky Krieps. Mortensen will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the film’s presentation.
• “Modì” by Johnny Depp, who will also receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the festival. The film depicts 72 hours in the life of painter Amedeo Modigliani, played by Riccardo Scamarcio, alongside a star-studded cast including Al Pacino and Luisa Ranieri.
• “Fino alla Fine” by Gabriele Muccino – an action movie that blends thriller and existential reflection. Set in Palermo, the film follows Sophie, a young American on vacation, who becomes embroiled in a dangerous plot with a group of local friends.
• “Longlegs” by Osgood Perkins – a supernatural thriller blending investigation and horror, directed by Anthony Perkins’ son. Nicolas Cage plays a disturbing serial killer nicknamed “Longlegs” in an investigation that uncovers dark mysteries and a complex psychological plot.
• “We Live in Time” by John Crowley chronicles ten years in the life of a couple brought together by chance (or accident) with Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield.

4. Best of 2024

This section brings together some of the season’s best films, already presented and acclaimed at major international festivals. It allows Roman audiences to see award-winning films from around the world, contributing to the global dimension of the Fest.

5. Special Screenings

The Special Screenings section will find out-of-competition films, tributes, and works celebrating cinema personalities and significant anniversaries. Among them is the screening of the highly anticipated “Megalopolis” by Francis Ford Coppola, which will be presented on October 14 in its Italian premiere at the Cinecittà Studios as a pre-opening event of the Fest.

6. Cinema History

Finally, the Cinema History section offers a selection of restored classic films, honouring directors and actors who have marked the history of the seventh art. This year, the most significant tribute will be to Marcello Mastroianni, with a series of screenings dedicated to his most iconic films and documentaries and exhibitions throughout Rome.

Pre-opening in collaboration with Alice nella Città

A special event awaits film fans with the pre-opening of the Rome Film Fest and Alice nella Città, which will take place on October 14, 2024, at the historic Cinecittà Studios. During this occasion, “Megalopolis,” the latest masterpiece by director Francis Ford Coppola, will be screened in its Italian premiere. The event will also be streamed live from the Sala Petrassi at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, allowing a wider audience to attend the presentation.

The following day, on October 15, Coppola will meet with the juries of Alice nella Città, film school students, and the public. During this meeting, the director will reflect on the highlights of his extraordinary career, sharing thoughts on cinema and future projects.

The full program is available here.

FRED Film Radio will closely follow the 19th edition of the Rome Film Fest with daily updates, exclusive red-carpet interviews, insights into competing films, and behind-the-scenes access to masterclasses with international guests. Stay tuned so you don’t miss a moment of this unmissable celebration of cinema.