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