Italian movie legend Claudia Cardinale has called on film directors to do their part to bring about world peace. "The art of cinematography should be used to promote intercultural respect and cooperation, to revive a sense of responsibility and defend notions that are indispensable to peace," Cardinale said.
The 68-year-old actress was speaking at the presentation of the Med Film Fest, which kicks off last week in Rome. Cardinale, who has appeared in more than 150 films and worked with some of the greatest directors and film stars of the 20th century, is the honourary chair of the 12th edition of the festival. The Med Film Fest aims to contribute to peace by using cinema as an opportunity for dialogue between the different peoples of the Mediterranean.
This year 225 feature films, shorts and documentaries from 40 countries will be screened at the event, which winds up with the awarding of the main Amore e Psiche (Love and Psyche) prize on November 19. The Med Film Fest takes place at four venues in the city: the Auditorium Conciliazione, the Trevi Cinema, the Museum of Rome In Trastevere and the Casa dell'Architettura (House of Architecture). It opens with Spanish director Carlos Saura's latest movie, Iberia. "The content of the works are important to us, not the glamour," said Festival President Ginella Vocca. "These are not niche movies. Many are high-cost films produced in Europe and the Mediterranean area. We Italians do not know much about this type of cinema, but we should wake up or we'll end up locked in a bubble of provincialism".
Spanish cinema is being given a prominent role this year and veteran actress Carmen Maura, the star of several Pedro Almodovar pictures, is among the guests of honour. The Med Film Fest kicks off less than a month after the debut edition of the capital's star-studded international cinema festival.
Lazio Regional Culture Councillor Giulia Rodano believes the two events complement each other: "It is important that the Med Film Fest takes place soon after the Rome Film Fest because together they represent the two faces of cinema - a festival of the people and a festival of research. The Med Film Fest believes in cultural diversity and addresses the painful, sometimes bloody, issues of the Mediterranean, where our voices are weaker and the voices of war are getting louder".

Page 1/...Page 2

	Printable Version	</ td>	Email to a Friend
	Voice Your Opinion		Letter to the Editor