A magical week in Rome has finally reached a semi-conclusion with a wonderful concert in the state-of-the -art Santa Cecilia Philharmonic Audirorium preceeding the offiicial awards ceremony. The concert under the energetic baton of resident conductor Antonio Pappano at the unusually early hour of 11 AM opened with a rousing rendition of Rossini's William Tell Overture which brought the house down in an explosion of enthusiastic applause and cheers. This was followed in rapid succession by a medley of familiar operatic numbers: Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana, the overture from Verdi's La Forza del Destino, the intermezzo ,Act II, from Puccini's Manon Lescaut, and then -- a surprise switch for the skedded final number which was listed on the program as the Rakoczy March from Berlioz's "The Damnation of Faust" -- the Star Wars music by American composer John Williams. This was performed by the Santa Cecilia orchestra, surely one of the best in Italy. and Mr. Pappano' s stick work us something to see, more or less in the flamboyant Leonard Bernstein tradition. Talk about music to set the mood for an awards ceremony -- this was it -- a delicious philharmonic concert in its own right on other grounds. The acoustics and sight lines of the five year old Santa Cecilia auditorium are among the best in the business, whetting one's appetite to witness other musical events here.

Next up, the official awards ceremony. presided over by senior Italian director Ettore Scuola . Let me preface this by saying that the awards as such are merely incidental -- There were so many good films in various categories that, who cares which ones got what. The real Grand Prix goes to the festival itself. That said, an announcement was made regarding the Rome Metro accident which occurred during the week, to the effect that the ceremony would observe a note of solemnity in respect for the victims of the sad underground collision. The mayor of Lazio province said that the fest was sponsored by 70 percent private money and that this was the first, but most definitely not the last Rome film festival. (Loud applause and "hear yeas") -- The first official presenter was actress Ornelli Muti, 51, the only Italian actress to atttain international recognition after the generation of Lollogibrida and Loren, who presented the best actress award to Ariane Ascaride for her work in Robert Guediguian's "Le Voyage en Armenie". In a trim black slacks outfit and long straight hair falling down her back, La Muti, a big sex symbol back in the seventies, looked like she could still play a personnage half her actual age. The popular jury made of of fifty normal film buffs hand picked by Mr. Scuola from a large pool of aspirants, chose the Russian entry "Izobrazhaya Zhertvy" (Playing the Victin) by Kiryl Serebrennikiv, as Best Film. The young Russian director , speaking in Russian through an interpreter, said that he never expected to win a prize here since this was a film which he made with soley the Russian audience in mind, but was greatly pleased to be awarded here in the "capitol of Euopean cinema". This, needless to say, brought forth a big round of appreciative applause. A special jury prize went to the Shane Meadows film "This Is England", a study of skinhead racism in Thatcher's England. Said the director, "I am very honored to be recognized i n this city and in a country which has its own racial problems, for such a difficult film on such a touchy subject." I saw the film and thought it not particularly "touchy", but simply well made, insightful and very entertaining. One Italian viewer after the screening described it as "bellissima" and I couldn't agree more.

A sad and sentimental moment occurred when Mrs. Gillo Pontecorvo, the widow of the recently departed iconic Italian director of "The Battle of Algiers", was given a bundle of flowers and a special award in the name of her deceased husband. The entire audience stood up at attention for a heart felt moment of respect. Among the many Italian film personalities who participated in the ceremony was 76 year old director Giuliano Montaldo, whose "Sacco and Vanzetti" travelled around the world to universal acclaim in 1971. As the auditorium emptied after the proceedings a small tight throng formed around actress Muti, who, while no longer the star she once was, still has that catlike beauty that makes people stop and stare. The event was followed by a wine tasting out in the foyer featuring champagne and all the "Vino Nobile a Montepulcianno" one could hope to imbibe in a brief "happy hour". I myself, who am by no means a wine connoisseur, became one on the spot after about five goblets of the marvellous red liquid. A Tuscan red wine to remember next time you're in Italy -- and I'll (urp) repeat that -- "Fattoria del Cerro --Vino Nobile di Montepulcianno", 2003. (Is that a faint voice I hear from the distant past -- in a gravely voice shouting -- "UMBRIAGGO!" --Thank you,. Shnozzle Durante!) -- The festival is not quite over yet --still to come later today, a encounter with Roberto DeNiro, fresh in from Tribeca, New York. It seems to me that there is little left to say at this point, (following a jet lagged Harrison Ford yesterday) -- other than, yessirree -- fukkin Aye! --this festival has been a rousing success and is obviously not a one-shot phenomenon -- By the way --(says Marco Mueller in the shadows, om a side street in Venice) -- Are you talkin' a ME!?
Stay tuned --more to come ...

ROME -- GRAND FINALE -- BUT THE REAL GRAND PRIX WAS THE FESTIVAL ITSELF
by Alex Deleon, Rome