Rome Film Fest Appoints Paola Cortellesi as Jury President

Actress, director, and screenwriter Paola Cortellesi will chair the jury of the Progressive Cinema Competition, the competitive section of the Rome Film Fest. The announcement was made by Salvatore Nastasi, President of the Fondazione Cinema per Roma, on the recommendation of the Artistic Director, Paola Malanga.

Paola Cortellesi returns to the Rome Film Fest following the extraordinary success of There’s Still Tomorrow, her directorial debut in 2023, which received multiple awards: the Special Jury Prize, the Audience Award, and the Special Mention for Best First Feature – BNL BNP Paribas. The film went on to become one of the most successful box-office hits in the history of Italian cinema and travelled the world.

“I’m honored to have been invited to chair the jury of the Rome Film Fest,” said Paola Cortellesi. “Over the years, this festival has built a strong and compelling identity, becoming a key point of reference for both Italian and international cinema. I feel deeply grateful to be part of it. I thank the President of the Fondazione Cinema per Roma, Salvatore Nastasi, and Artistic Director Paola Malanga for their trust and for this invitation, which I accept with a sense of responsibility and great enthusiasm.”

“We are opening the 20th edition of the Rome Film Fest with an announcement that makes us extremely proud,” said Salvatore Nastasi. “Paola Cortellesi will be an authoritative and insightful jury president, and I sincerely thank her for accepting our invitation.”

Paola Malanga also commented on the choice: “Following in the footsteps of Marjane Satrapi, Gael García Bernal, and Pablo Trapero, the Festival’s Competition will be honored by yet another exceptional jury president in Paola Cortellesi. We are truly delighted to welcome her back to the Fest after hosting her dazzling directorial debut There’s Still Tomorrow as our opening film. Her film went on to be an international success warmly received around the world. Paola Cortellesi is an artist of remarkable sensitivity and extraordinary talent. We are confident that her thoughtful, profound, and innovative perspective will be a great asset to all the films in the competition for this 20th edition.”