Napolitano visits Venice film fest

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano was in Venice on Thursday to visit the international architecture exhibition and film festival currently underway in the lagoon city. The head of state expressed his enthusiasm for the exhibition, directed by British architect David Chipperfield and titled Common Ground. "It seems to have a totally new approach from what I have seen," said Napolitano. Likewise he said he thought the international film festival was going very well and voiced his support for Italian cinema. "I am here for that reason," said Napolitano. "I am waiting to see the films in competition when they are released". The president had lunch with the festival president Paolo Baratta and director Alberto Barbera, three members of the festival jury and film director Ermanno Olmi. He also spoke briefly with veteran American actor, director and producer Robert Redford, who is in Venice with his thriller The Company You Keep, about the importance of independent cinema.