New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today joined Tribeca Film Festival founders Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff to welcome Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni and Rome Film Fest CEO Carlo Fuortes to discuss a partnership between the Rome and Tribeca Film Festivals. As part of the partnership, the Rome Film Fest will screen six films from the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival, and in 2007, Tribeca plans to show a selection of films from Rome. Robert De Niro will also screen 20 minutes of select scenes from the upcoming Universal Pictures/Morgan Creek/Tribeca Productions film, “The Good Shepherd,” at the Rome Fest. In addition, Mayor Veltroni announced that the Rome Film Fest will present the Tribeca Film Festival its first Steps and Stars Award, which recognizes individuals and cultural entities that have made significant contributions to the film industry. The first annual Rome Film Fest will run from October 13 - 21, 2006.

“On behalf of 8.2 million New Yorkers, I want to welcome Mayor Veltroni and the Rome Film Fest organizers to the Big Apple,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “The bond between New York and Rome – one of our sister cities – will only grow stronger with the partnership between the Tribeca Film Festival and the Rome Film Fest. Every year, film lovers throughout the city and the world eagerly anticipate the Tribeca Film Festival – an event that brought hope to Lower Manhattan in its darkest days. I am delighted that the Rome Film Fest has joined Tribeca and embraced a similar mission, which will surely energize the cultural vitality of Rome.”

“I’m grateful to Mayor Bloomberg for offering to Cinema-Roma Festa Internazionale the opportunity to have a world class presentation in New York City,” said Mayor Veltroni. “I have been an admirer of the Tribeca Film Festival since its inception. It is so well connected to its urban community and open to substantive innovation, with its brave choice of cutting edge content and presentation. After collaborating with the Tribeca Film Festival, our Rome Film Fest is honored to assign it the first edition of the Steps and Stars Award, in recognition of the astounding capacity to spread the spirit and passion of the art of cinema throughout the world.”

“Our partnership with the Rome Film Fest will expand Tribeca’s international outreach and develop new audiences for our filmmakers,” said Jane Rosenthal. “We are so pleased that Rome has chosen us to be a part of its first Festival.”

“We are pleased to be part of the inaugural Rome Film Fest and honored that the Tribeca Film Festival is receiving the first annual Steps and Stars Award,” said Robert De Niro. “I look forward to a long-term creative relationship between Rome and Tribeca.”

Robert De Niro will present a preview of 20 minutes of clips from the “The Good Shepherd” at the Rome Film Fest. The film, which was directed by De Niro, stars Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie. It tells the story of the birth of the CIA, viewed through the life of a man who believed in America and would sacrifice everything to protect it. Following the screening, De Niro will participate in a discussion about the making of the film.

Additionally, on October 21, Robert De Niro will accept the Rome Fest’s first Steps and Stars Award on behalf of the Tribeca Film Festival.

The six Tribeca Film Festival selections that will be shown as part of the partnership with the Rome Film Fest include:
The War Tapes, directed by Deborah Scranton (USA) – World Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival 2006 – winner Best Documentary Feature.
The Yacoubian Building (Omaret Yacoubian), directed by Marwan Hamed, written by Wahid Hamed (Egypt) – North American Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival 2006 – winner Best New Narrative Filmmaker.
Akeelah and the Bee, directed and written by Doug Atchison (USA) – New York Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival 2006.
The Bridge, directed by Eric Steel (USA) – World Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival 2006
The Lew Rudin Way, directed by David Hoffman (USA) – World Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival 2006.
The Mist in the Palm Trees (La Niebla en las Palmeras), directed by Carlos Molinero and Lola Salvador, written by Molinero and Salvador Maldonado (Spain) – International Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival 2006.

In addition to the partnership selections, four films that screened at Tribeca in 2006 were chosen by the Rome Film Fest to be part of its inaugural slate. They include:
Driving Lessons, directed and written by Jeremy Brock (UK) – North American Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival 2006.
I’m Reed Fish, directed by Zackary Adler, written by Reed Fish (USA) – World Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival 2006
Just Like the Son, directed and written by Morgan J. Freeman (USA) – World Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival 2006.
Tierney Gearon: The Mother Project, directed by Jack Youngelson and Peter Sutherland (USA, UK, France, India) – World Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival 2006.
In 2006, the Rome Chamber of Commerce and the Rome Film Fest together became a Cultural Sponsor at the Tribeca Film Festival. They hosted the Tribeca Food and Film dinner with a panel discussion among American film luminaries about the Roman and Italian culinary experience in cinema.

About the Tribeca Film Festival (www.tribecafilmfestival.org)

The Tribeca Film Festival was founded in 2002 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff as a response to the attacks on the World Trade Center. Conceived to foster the economic and cultural revitalization of Lower Manhattan through an annual celebration of film, music and culture, the Festival’s mission is to promote New York City as a major filmmaking center and help filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience.

The sixth annual Tribeca Film Festival will run from April 25 - May 6, 2007. The Festival is anchored in Tribeca and takes place in additional neighborhoods throughout Manhattan featuring screenings, special events, concerts, a family street fair, and panel discussions.

As Founding Sponsor of the Tribeca Film Festival, American Express is committed to expanding the Festival and bringing it to new audiences in compelling ways. As part of a long-term partnership with the Festival, American Express celebrates filmmakers, facilitates storytelling and is dedicated to bringing energy and business to Lower Manhattan.

About the Rome Film Fest (www.romacinemafest.org)

The Rome Film Fest intends to be a great film fest in a great city. An event for movie lovers – for all those who work for cinema, show cinema, tell us stories through cinema but also for those who have never been to a film festival before.

The first edition of the Fest, produced by the Musica per Roma Foundation, will be held from October 13 - 21, 2006 at the Auditorium, designed by the world-famous Italian architect Renzo Piano. Apart from the screenings of films from the competition and the premieres, the program includes special events, meetings, music, fashion, memory and future, within the entire urban area of Rome.

The Rome Film Fest is promoted by the City Council of Rome, the Rome Chamber of Commerce, the Lazio Region, the Province of Rome and main partner, BNL Bank (Banca Nazionale del Lavoro). The president of the Foundation Committee is the Mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni, while the Board’s President is Goffredo Bettini, President of the Musica per Roma Foundation.

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