25/10/2021 - Marcel Barrena’s film received the most votes from the public while L’Arminuta scooped the BNL Prize and Petite Maman was named best film in the Alice nella Città competition

Mediterraneo – The Law of the Sea [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Marcel Barrena turned out to be the best-loved film among viewers of the 16th Rome Film Fest, which closed yesterday, 24 October, and proved a resounding success, boasting high quality films, star attendees, 37,231 tickets sold for 326 screenings and 89% of seats occupied, a significant result considering that in Italy, cinemas only returned to 100% capacity three days ahead of the Festival’s opening.

Examining the creation of the humanitarian organisation founded by Òscar Camps, and co-produced by Spain and Greece, the film walked away with the FS Audience Award, as decided upon by viewers voting via the festival’s official app and website. “This story speaks of a group of men who do good things. And we need to focus on good men, on good things”, the director explained while thanking the Roman audience during a video message. The movie is set to be distributed in Italy by Adler Entertainment.

The BNL - BNP Paribas Group Prize, meanwhile, which is awarded by the festival’s long-term partner and which, this year, sought to reward the art and skill of those working behind the cameras, whether screenwriters, directors or authors, by way of a €10,000 prize, went to Giuseppe Bonito for L’Arminuta [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Giuseppe Bonito
film profile], a film which “sensitively touches upon themes of foster care, inclusion, emancipation through education, and the strength of people who are polar opposites yet try to find common ground”.

The Best Film Award in the Alice nella Città competition went to Céline Sciamma’s Petite Maman [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]. Composed of 30 youngsters hailing from all over Italy, the youth jury bestowed their prize upon the French director’s “delicate, elegant, profound and poetic” film for its “ability to draw the viewer in emotionally and carry them away on an immersive and nostalgic journey”. The Best Direction Award, meanwhile, as decided upon by the various Alice nella Città juries, was handed to Kenneth Branagh by way of Belfast [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], “for having managed to tell a story through the eyes of a child in which the deepest emotions serve to showcase an exemplary technique”.

Last but not least, Rome Film Fest’s independent, parallel section dedicated to new generations - which this year recorded 23,000 attendees, 15,000 issued tickets and 6,000 badge-holders, and which is also in receipt of the Medal of the President of the Republic - likewise handed out various awards, including the Alice-My Movies Golden Camera Prize for Best First Work to Softie [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Samuel Theis
film profile] by Samuel Theis, and a Special Mention to Elie Grappe’s Olga [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Elie Grappe
film profile].

The winners of the 16^th Rome Film Fest are as follows:

Official Selection

FS Audience Award
Mediterraneo – The Law of the Sea [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Marcel Barrena (Spain/Greece)

BNL - BNP Paribas Group Award
L’Arminuta [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Giuseppe Bonito
film profile] - Giuseppe Bonito (Italy/Switzerland)

Alice nella Città

Best Film
Petite Maman [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Céline Sciamma (France)

Best Direction
Belfast [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Kenneth Branagh (UK)

Alice-My Movies Golden Camera Award for Best First Work
Softie [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Samuel Theis
film profile] - Samuel Theis (France)
Special Mention
Olga [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Elie Grappe
film profile] - Elie Grappe (Switzerland/France)

RB Casting Award for Best Young Italian Performance
Madalina Jekal - Anima bella [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (Italy)

Do-Cine Rising Star Award
Sophie Breyer – La Ruche (Belgium/France)
Special Mention
Aliocha Reinert – Softie

Raffaella Fioretta Prize for Best Italian Film
La tana [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Beatrice Baldacci (Italy)

Best Short Film
Big - Daniele Pini (Italy)
Special Mention
L’avversario - Federico Russotto (Italy)

Best Short Film Direction
Jelena Vujovic - We Will Be the Greatest (Switzerland)

RAI Cinema Channel Award
Big - Daniele Pini 

Lotus Production Award
La flûte enchantée - Geordy Couturiau (France)

Premiere Award
Le buone maniere - Valerio Vestoso (Italy)

Pietro Coccia Award for Young Photography Talent
Chiara Piercamilli

(Translated from Italian)