Rome failed to dethrone Venice

The first Rome Film Fest ended on Saturday, October 21st, with the awarding by a popular jury of the prize for best feature film to 'Playing the Victim' by the Russian film maker Kirill Serebrennikov. For Thierry Jobin, this event "spruced up the image of the Italian capital rather than cinema itself. ... Because Rome leaves us somewhat dubious on the question of, 'What kind of a show-case is film and general culture in need of today?' The day after the closing of the event, only RAI television and a few Roman celebrity magazines were still around to cheer, delighted to watch stars having a good time on the Via Veneto. The others, the film buffs, are relieved: the Venice Mostra has nothing to fear for the time being. The oldest festival in the world, that took place last month, hade good reason to quake, with its costly Lido, its out-dated venues, and its stretched budget that is lower than Rome's. And yet it didn't tremble in the least."

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