Israeli and Jewish Rome film festival kicks off

After Turkish and Euro-Mediterranean films, Rome's Casa del Cinema will screen leading contemporary Israeli movies. From November 3-7, the cinema centre directed by Caterina D'Amico will host the screening of the 2012 edition of the Pitigliani Kolno'a Festival, an Israeli film festival on Jewish topics and a unique event in Italy. The festival, which has reached its seventh edition, was presented on Wednesday at the Istituto Pitigliani by artistic director Ariela Piattelli. The presentation was also attended by Rome's culture and historic centre councillor Dino Gasperini; Rome province's culture councillor Cecilia D'Elisa (both enthusiastic supporters of the initiative); the cultural attache' of Israel's embassy, Ofra Farhi, and Pitigliani advisor, Ronny Fellus. 'The programme this year includes 33 films, most of them Israeli', said Piattelli, listing all the features of the festival. 'Regard on Israel's new cinema' offers 'very diverse films which have all been internationally applauded and received prestigious nominations, such as 'Footnote', by Joseph Cedar' (best screenplay in Cannes and nominated for an Oscar), he said. The theme section of this edition of the festival is dedicated 'to one of Israel's greatest documentary makers', David Ofek. Four of his films will be screened. The filmmaker beat Israeli police in identifying the 17th victim of an attack in Israel in 2002. The festival will also focus on great Jewish filmmakers Stanley Kubrick, Roman Polanski and Woody Allen, each one the protagonist of a documentary, as well as up-and-coming filmmakers. The cinema department of the university of Tel Aviv is one of this year's guests of honour and films by current and former students will be screened at the festival. In the category 'Percorsi ebraici' (Jewish routes) are four documentaries including one which is particularly interesting: 'Profughi a Cinecitta' (refugees at Cinecitta') tells the story of war refugees who in 1944 fled to Rome's iconic film studios, Italy's Hollywood, which were transformed in a refugee camp. Ofra Farhi's relatives were among those refugees, she told the press conference, thanking the festival's organizers for including the film in this edition of the event. 'I personally thank you for including this movie', she said. Laboratories and debates have also been organized along with the screenings, including one with Eran Kolirin, who directed 'Exchange'. Entrance is open until seats are filled and free of charge.