French Actor Andy Gillet Italian Actress Valentina Cervi

Tuesday, October 23---------Last night at the Sala Sinopoli, the Rome FilmFest presented a program introducing UP AND COMING STARS: FRENCH AND ITALIAN YOUNG TALENTS. The program was co-presented by promotion agencies Unifrance and FilmItalia. The original idea for the program originated at the Franco-German Film Meetings (Rendez-vous franco-allemands) in Munich in November 2006, from a desire by the promotion agencies Unifrance and German Films to build contact between up and coming movie industry talents from France and Germany. Since then the idea has grown, with programs held in London at the Rendez-Vous with French Cinema last March and now in Rome.

Supported by this year’s patrons, French actor Ariane Ascaride and Italian director Alessandro D’Alatri, 8 French actors (Cécile Cassel, Chloé Coulloud, Stéphanie Crayencour, Elodie Navarre, Fua’d Ait Attou, Andy Gillet, Grégoire Leprince Ringuet, Johan Libéreau) and 8 Italian actors (Valentina Cervi, Carolina Crescentini, Valentina Lodovini, Alba Rorwacher, Giorgio Pasotti, Filippo Timi, Fabio Troiani, Michele Venitucci) were introduced to the public, press and the industry at a special ceremony. Excerpts from their films were also screened. Today, the actor took part in media interviews with Italian and European press at the French Embassy in Rome. In a new innovation this year, French and Italian casting directors will participate in the initiative, through crosscommunication meetings with actors from both countries. This is an innovative program that allows actors, producers, casting agents and others in the industry to meet the face of new talent in France and Italy, and continue a grand tradition that goes back over 70 years, with French and Italian acting talent mingling in any number of European co-productions (most famously, perhaps, Sophia Loren and Jean-Paul Belmondo in Vittorio de Sica's TWO WOMEN).

Sandy Mandelberger,  Rome FF Dailies Editor