The International Rome Film Festival has dramatically reduced the prize money for the Golden Marco Aurelio from €200,000 ($284,000) to just €40,000 ($56,800).

In previous years, the high level of prize money has been one of the four-year-old festival’s most distinguishing features. The festival declined to comment on why it has decreased the prize fund.

Last year, it handed out $106,500 (€75,000) to the winners of both the Golden Marco Aurelio audience and jury awards. The Extra and Alice in The City sections will continue to have three cash prizes at Euro 10,000 ($ 14,200) each.

As previously announced, director Milos Forman will head the jury, which also includes Italian architect Gae Aulenti and director Gabriele Muccino. It was announced today that they will be joined by  Senta Berger of the German Film Academy, French screenwriter Jean-Loup Dabadie; Algerian novelist, Assia Djebar; and Russian director Pavel Lungin.

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