Mediterráneo by Marcel Barrena wins People’s Choice Award
Mediterráneo, by Spanish director Marcel Barrena, won FS People’s Choice Award at the 16th edition of Rome Film Festival. The audience voted the films after the first rerun via the festival’s official app. Luca Torchia, CEO of FS – Ferrovie dello Stato, gave the award to Aldo Lemme, Head of Theatrical Distribution of Adler Entertainment that will release the film in Italy.
Mediterráneo is set in autumn 2015: after seeing the picture of a child drowned in the Mediterranean Sea, two lifeguards, Òscar and Gerard, go to Lesbos where they discover a disturbing reality: every day thousands of people risk their lives crossing the sea on precarious boats, to escape misery and wars that affect their countries, but foreign authorities don’t attend their responsibilities in case of emergency. With the help of Esther, Nico and their team, Òscar and Gerard try to rescue those people, giving them the help they need. Mediterráneo is inspired by the real story of Òscar Camps, founder of Open Arms.
The film L’Arminuta by Giuseppe Bonito, inspired by Donatella Di Pietrantonio’s book of the same name, won the BNP Paribas Award for Directing. In the section Alice nella Città, dedicated to young audiences, Petite Maman by Celine Sciamma won Best Film, while Belfast by Kenneth Branagh won Best Directing. Softie by Samuel Theis won MyMovies Golden Camera Award for Best First Feature Film with a special mention for Olga by Elie Grappe.
Despite COVID-19 restrictions, the 16th edition of Rome Film Festival can be considered successful, with over 30.000 tickets sold and a theater occupancy rate of 89%.
