Rome Film Fest Opens with Tributes to Claudia Cardinale and Lord Puttnam

Rome: The Rome cinema festival opened on Wednesday night with the world premiere of Riccardo Milani’s “La vita va cos¬” (Life Is Like That) and with homages to the late Claudia Cardinale and British film producer Lord David Puttnam, who received a lifetime achievement award.

According to Ansa News Agency, the jury at this year’s festival, celebrating its 20th anniversary, is chaired by actor-director Paola Cortellesi. She informed reporters on the opening night that she is nearly finished directing her second, yet untitled film after the success of “C’¨ ancora domani” (There’s Still Tomorrow), which set box-office records after its premiere at the Rome fest two years ago. Cortellesi also extended her best wishes to the opening film, which is directed by her partner Milani and is out of competition.

Salvo Nastasi, president of the Fondazione Cinema per Roma, commenced the evening with a tribute to Cardinale, star of films such as “The Leopard,” “Rocco and His Brothers,” “8 1/2,” and “Once Upon A Time In The West,” who passed away on September 23 at the age of 87. He remarked that Cardinale represented the strength, beauty, and hospitality of the Mediterranean tradition. Nastasi noted that in these challenging times, her smile, gaze, and memorable performances offer a reminder of the faith in humanity that seems increasingly elusive. The homage concluded with a video set to the waltz music from “The Leopard,” showcasing some of Cardinale’s finest performances.

Lord Puttnam, whose productions include the Oscar-winning “Chariots of Fire,” “The Mission,” “The Killing Fields,” “Local Hero,” “Midnight Express,” and “Memphis Belle,” shared his discovery of Italian cinema at the age of just over twenty. He expressed admiration for Italian cinema of the 1940s, which depicted a nation rediscovering and regaining confidence in itself. Puttnam acknowledged the debt owed to filmmakers like Visconti, De Sica, and Rossellini for their contributions to the cinematic landscape.