In a move welcomed by exhausted sales agents, distributors and journalists, the London and Rome film festival dates are to set apart.

This year, the events have an almost identical footprint - with Rome's festival running Oct 18 - 27 Oct and London's festival from Oct 17 - Nov 1.

When Rome's dates were announced earlier this year, London's organisers reacted to see the major European event scheduled in virtually the same time slot.

But Rome's organisers are striking a conciliatory note, saying that next year will be different.

'We will do our best to move out of the London dates because it is not right to be there,' Rome Film fest's Teresa Cavina said. 'We will try not to overlap London and try not to overlap Pusan.'

Rome's organisers are negotiating their dates but there are constrictions as the festival's main premises, The Auditoirum, are in demand for musical events and that the event wants to remain an autumn festival.

Cavina suggested that London and Rome have not suffered because of their competition for the same films.

'I think that (London Film Festival artistic director) Sandra Hebron is very happy with her programme and we are very happy with ours. We didn't damage each other.'

Hebron welcomed the gesture, saying, 'It's not good when festivals have clashing dates because it makes for all kinds of logistical difficulties. There are some prints we will be sharing. There will be some people who want to be at both festivals.

'We are not in direct competition,' Hebron says. 'Everyone recognises that the real competition is between Rome and Venice. Although it is an coincidence to have their dates at the same time as ours, it is not a disaster. We would all be more comfortable if the dates were not at the same time.'

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