Other winners include Heaven-In A Better World and The Poll Diaries.

Kill Me Please, a politically incorrect black comedy shot in black in white from Belgian director Olias Barco, has taken the Gold Marc’Aurelio, Rome’s top prize, which was decided by an international jury led by Italian actor/director Sergio Castellito. The awards were announced at the wrap of the fifth edition of the International Rome Film Festival Friday. 
 
Denmark’s Oscar contender, Heaven- In A Better World by Susanne Bier, a reflective film about peace activism and world violence registered a double win, scooping up Rome’s audience award for best film as well as the Marc’Aurelio Grand Jury Award. The coveted audience recognition comes with a $57,000 (Euros 40,000) prize.

The international jury also assigned the Marc’Aurelio Special Jury award to The Poll Diaries by Germany’s Chris Kraus, which is set on the even of WWI, the Marc’Aurelio for best actor went to Toni Servillo for his role in Una Vita Tranquilla. Servillo portrays a Southern Italian mobster successfully on the run in Germany until his past comes back to haunt him, while the Marco Aurelio award for best actress wet to the entire female case of The Good Herbs (La Buenas Hierbas) from Mexico. The special Plaque of the President of the Italian Republic for a film that emphasises humanitarian issues went to Hossein Keshavarz for the film Dog Sweat.

Rome’s Extra section focusing on documentaries awarded the Marc’ Aurelio for best documentary to De Regenmakers by Floris-Jan Van Luyn from The Netherlands. The documentary looks at environmental issues in China.

New to this edition, the Marc’Aurelio for emerging talents was given to Danish director Kaspar Munk for Hold Om Mig, presented in Alice in the City, Rome’s popular youth section.

That section’s two youth juries were on hand to hand out prizes in two age categories. I Want To Be A Soldier by Christian Molina received the Marc’Aurelio Alice In The City Under 12 award. The Marc’Aurelio Alice In The City Over 12 Award was given to Adem by Hans Van Nuffel.

The Rome Film Festival wrapped a successful edition with a 10 percent increase of industry attendees for the Business Street while the sister event, the New Cinema Network (NCN) co production market registered a 20 percent increase in producers specifically on had for the pitching sessions and production meetings. Fifty-three countries were represented at NCN this edition

Tickets were sold to the tune of $652,000 (Euros 460,000) - up from $538.000 (Euros 380,000) in 2009.

  

 

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