Italian cinema industry sides with Marco Müller for Rome Film Festival

Renowned Italian filmmakers Bertolucci, Olmi, Bellocchio, Salvatores, Crialese, as well as Toni Servillo, Stefania Sandrelli, the producers Riccardo Tozzi and Pietro Valsecchi, and singer-songwriter Franco Battiato feature amongst the 150 signatories of an appeal in favour of the new director of the Rome Film Festival, Marco Müller.

In an open letter addressed to politicians and administrators; artists of the film and entertainment industry ask that Müller be placed in the “conditions to guarantee that an all too near 2012 edition takes place”, and that his contract as director of the Rome Film Festival therefore be closed.

Marco Müller’s nomination as artistic director on March 16 (see news here) has in fact still not been turned into a signed contract. According to rumours, the former director of the Venice Film Festival is becoming increasingly worried with regards to timing and has not made a mystery of the fact that he considers Cannes as a deadline.

The next board of directors’ meeting of the Fondazione Cinema per Roma, which could lead to a conclusion of the matter, will take place on Friday, assured the President Paolo Ferrari, dismissing the rumours going around about the alleged problems with the staff of selectors suggested by Müller.

“Any further loss of time would be a defeat for Rome and a huge setback for Italian cinema”, says the appeal, “And would probably lead to the event’s death and the cancellation of any future prospects.”

The Rome Film Festival 2012 is likely to take place in October or November this year.

Vittoria Scarpa for Cineuropa.org

Posted by Cineuropa on May 3 2012. Filed under Features & Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.