Editor

the exclusive premiere of Tron Legacy and the opening event at the Maxxi
The fifth edition of the International Rome Film Festival opens on Thursday (28th October – 5th November) and it will take place under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic. The Sala Santa Cecilia of the Auditorium Parco della Musica will be hosting the first film in competition in the Official Selection, Last Night by Massy Tadjedin. At 6:45 p.m., before the screening of the film scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Keira Knightley and Eva Mendes will be walking down the red carpet.
At 4:00 p.m. in the Sala Petrassi, the Festival will be paying tribute to Akira Kurosawa, with the restored version of Rashomon. Following the screening, Goffredo Fofi will be hosting an encounter entitled “The great Maestro at work”, with Teruyo Nogami, Kurosawa's script supervisor, and Vittorio Dalle Ore, his assistant director from 1983 to 1993.
At 6:00 p.m. in the Sala Sinopoli, the Festival will be screening an exclusive 20 minute premiere of Tron Legacy. The red carpet will be re-creating the atmospheres of Tron Legacy, with themed costumes and choreographies inspired to the music of Daft Punk, the authors of the score. Tron Legacy is directed by debutting Joseph Kosinski, whereas the producer is Steven Lisberger (producer of the first chapter as well). Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner, the original protagonists, are back in their roles again.
Starting from 10:00 p.m., the opening of the fifth edition of the International Rome Film Festival will be framed by innovative and spectacular forms created by Zaha Hadid for the Maxxi. The National Museum of the 21st Century Arts will be hosting a guest night entitled “The Empire of signs”. The event will be characterized by performances, music, videoinstallations dedicated to the Japanese culture realized by the Focus section, which this year turns its spotlight on Japan.
The evening will see the presence of Dj Krush and of pianist Chihiro Yamanaka, who will be playing electronic music and jazz, while Dj Krush, Yori Suzuki and Martum_m will be projected on a screen made of tulle. Three Oiran models (Japanese courtiers) will be performing under the direction of artist Junko Koshino. Stefano Iraci's screenings will be projected on an installation of reflecting film. Several Japanese cooks will be demonstrating the best way to prepare sushi, while guests enjoy their sushi buffet.
From 28th October to 20th December, the Sala Atti Parlamentari of the Italian Senate's Library will be hosting the exhibition: ''1960. Il mondo ai tempi de 'La dolce vita''' (“1960. The world during the days of 'La dolce vita'”). An exhibition of newspapers and photos organized by the Emeroteca del Polo bibliotecario, and one among several of the Festival's initiatives in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita.
The fifth edition of the Festival will be held under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic. The international jury (presided by Sergio Castellitto, and composed of Natalia Aspesi, Ulu Grosbard, Patrick McGrath, Edgar Reitz, and Olga Sviblova), will be conferring the Marc’Aurelio Awards for Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, and the Grand Jury Award. For the first time this year, a Plaque from the President of the Italian Republic will be conferred to the film which will best highlight human and social values.
Besides, the International Rome Film Festival invites all festivalgoers to participate in conferring the Marc’Aurelio Audience Award for Best Film – BNL. Every ticket holder, upon entering the theater, will receive a card listing the films which will be screened, with which the audiences will be able to express their liking. The films in the running for the Audience Award are those in competition in the Official Selection.