RI filmmaker Garin Nugroho wins Rome Special Award

RI filmmaker Garin Nugroho wins Rome Special Award

Noted Indonesian film director and producer Garin Nugroho won the Special Award of the City of Rome, a respected award from Italian cineasts, in Rome on Saturday night, for his consistency in portraying aspects of artistic and sociopolitical relations from fine arts, poems and multicultures.

The award, from mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni, was handed over by well-known Italian director Gillo Pontecorvo. "Each of Garin's films were different and unique from a mainstream approach," he said in his welcoming speech, as quoted by Koran Tempo on Wednesday.

The award was given in a program of the 4th Asiatica Film Mediale, an Asia film festival that took place at Capranica cinema, Rome, from Nov. 8 to Nov. 16.

Six of Garin's works screened at the program, themed "Homage To Garin Nugroho," including Cinta Dalam Sepotong Roti (Love In A Piece of Bread, 1991), Surat Untuk Bidadari (Letter for an Angel, 1994), and Aku Ingin Menciummu Sekali Saja (I Just Want To Kiss You Once, 2002).

Besides Garin, Iranian film director Majid Majidi, well-known from his notable film Children of Heaven, got the Presiden de Sicca Foundation award. De Sicca is celebrated as a figure of Italian neorealism.

The Asiatica Film Mediale was organized by Italy's Ministry of Culture and the City administration of Rome. The festival was held in cooperation between The Japan Foundation and a number of Asian embassies in Rome. --JP