ROMA FICTION FEST ROMA FICTION FEST

The way we were, the way we are, the way we'll be….

The Rome Fiction Fest turns ten this year, undoubtedly an occasion to celebrate and consolidate its identity as a truly unique event on the international festival scene. The edition we've come up with will have no unnecessary frills nor the ritual patting ourselves on the back; it simply offers the best in Italian and international TV series and TV movies today, in all their new creative forms and the wealth of styles, mediums and content they display. The way we were, the way we are, the way we'll be - a unique opportunity not so much for a nostalgic backward glance at television's prehistory, beaming fondly as we turn the pages of an old family album, as it were. Our main concern is for this festival to grow, with the help of a more and more passionate audience.

We've devoted special attention to the upswing in production in Italy's own television industry, the start of a process of enhancing our offerings with new stories and new characters who really resonate with viewers. This process is not only a response to the need to align the Italian industry with the prospects for international serial television today; it also has the aim of producing a broad spectrum of works that have reached maturity, without forgoing the sheer pleasure of popular, mainstream entertainment. No, TV series will not be replacing cinema, but the lines between the two are finer than you think. Television, for one, is the small screen no longer: it's expanding, encroaching on other genres, revealing new opportunities for one and all, creators and viewers alike. Paolo Sorrentino's series The Young Pope is one such example. It sets itself apart from standard practice, subverts the rules of customary narrative, and holds out the promise of new storytelling modes for many. In recent years our TV series have managed to wed new prototypes to traditional fare, ushering in a new era of self-expression for the new crop of creators, showrunners, writers, directors and actors.

But just what is the Rome Fiction Fest cooking up for its tenth-anniversary edition? Have you ever seen Six Feet Under on the big screen? The surprise hit series that escorted us into the new millennium? Now try to imagine not it on the big screen, in an unbroken stream of episodes. You can discover or rediscover it in the Sala Cult, our screening venue entirely given over to works from an earlier age whose power and originality have turned them into classics, with all the glow of their initial astonishing novelty intact. Another in our series of modern classics from not so long ago is Boris, an original and appealing take on a certain quirky strand of Italy's TV narrative tradition, by way of comedy and even parody. For its sizeable fan base, Boris has achieved cult status. But intriguing offerings and entertainment abound on our five-day program, and we mean to treat the public to a festival that is vital and unpredictable. Our mistress of ceremonies, by the way - Matilda De Angelis - is a young actress who's made a name for herself on the small and big screens; she represents our most optimistic view of the future. The way we'll be is what we can glimpse in her own warm glance, and in her temperament and talent as an actress.

The competitive lineup features ten titles, international series as yet unaired in Italy. They come from all over the world and offer a broad overview of the best in serial television today, from the US and the UK to France, Sweden, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Poland, Australia and even Italy itself. Weighing them in the balance will be a remarkable international jury headed by Oscar®-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss. From American Graffiti, Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind to his recent TV series about a highly controversial figure, Bernie Madoff, Dreyfuss is perhaps the most shining example of the deep ties between our classic film heritage and the new horizon represented by the Television Renaissance. Then there's our Kids & Teens section, which this year offers further proof of its dedication to scouting out television offerings designed for children, teens and families in Italy and around the world, with the latest animated series and occasions for younger viewers to meet their own beloved small-screen heroes. Lastly, we'll be holding master classes, panels, and Q&As with Italian television stars.

We're particularly proud of the roster of marvelous world premieres we were able to attract to the festival this year. The quality of this lineup is a reflection of the glowing reputation the Rome Fiction Fest has earned abroad; for broadcasters and international production companies, it's definitely the festival to watch. It's a lineup that also bears out our aspiration to become a more and more popular festival that is an occasion to share and build on a variety of experiences, tastes, styles and content. Our creative staff has worked to this end day in and day out, and the contribution of Gaia Tridente, Marco Spagnoli, Simone Raineri, Fabia Bettini and Gianluca Giannelli has proved invaluable. I'd like to personally thank them and the entire team that has made this festival possible.

Giuseppe Piccioni