This article originally appeared in
October 27, 2007
'Juno' takes home top prize at
RomaCinemaFest
By ERIC J. LYMAN
ROME -- Jason Reitman's "Juno" -- a comedy about a pregnant girl who tries
to find a couple to adopt her baby -- won the top prize at the second
RomaCinemaFest Saturday.
The U.S.-made film, which started to be mentioned as a favorite after it
premiered Thursday, stars Ellen Page as Juno, a Minnesota teenager facing
an unwelcome pregnancy. The film, which was the runner up for the
people's choice award at the Toronto Film Festival in September, will go into
limited release in the U.S. in December and in Europe early in 2008.
Croatian actor Rade Serbedzija won the Best Actor prize for his role as a
Greek archeologist who saves a Jewish orphan during World War II. And "Le
Chun" (And the Spring Comes) star Jang Wenli won the Best Actress prize
for her portrayal of a provincial opera singer with big dreams.
The awards for the ten-day festival were announced during a gala ceremony
at the main auditorium at the Italian capital's Parco della Musica. The full
house reacted enthusiastically to the selection of "Juno" for the top prize, in
contrast to last year when the Marcus Aurellius prize went to Kirill
Serebrennikov's "Izobrajaya Zhertvy" (Playing the Victim), a darling of the
critics that drew mixed responses from the crowd.
This year's 50-member jury -- chaired by award-winning Bosnian director
Danis Tanovic and made up of 50 ordinary moviegoers from across Europe
-- picked more mainstream films for the main prizes.
Among other prize winners was Abolfaz Jalili's "Hafez," which won a special
jury prize; "La Giusta Distanza" (The Right Distance) star Giuseppe Battiston,
who won the prize for Best Italian Performance; Battiston's co-star, Valentina
Lodovini, who won the prize for Best Makeup; Sean Penn's |Into the Wild,"
which won a prize for the Best Film in the Premiere selection; and Forbidden
Lie$," which took home the collateral prize for Best Documentary.
RomaCinemaFest
By ERIC J. LYMAN
ROME -- Jason Reitman's "Juno" -- a comedy about a pregnant girl who tries
to find a couple to adopt her baby -- won the top prize at the second
RomaCinemaFest Saturday.
The U.S.-made film, which started to be mentioned as a favorite after it
premiered Thursday, stars Ellen Page as Juno, a Minnesota teenager facing
an unwelcome pregnancy. The film, which was the runner up for the
people's choice award at the Toronto Film Festival in September, will go into
limited release in the U.S. in December and in Europe early in 2008.
Croatian actor Rade Serbedzija won the Best Actor prize for his role as a
Greek archeologist who saves a Jewish orphan during World War II. And "Le
Chun" (And the Spring Comes) star Jang Wenli won the Best Actress prize
for her portrayal of a provincial opera singer with big dreams.
The awards for the ten-day festival were announced during a gala ceremony
at the main auditorium at the Italian capital's Parco della Musica. The full
house reacted enthusiastically to the selection of "Juno" for the top prize, in
contrast to last year when the Marcus Aurellius prize went to Kirill
Serebrennikov's "Izobrajaya Zhertvy" (Playing the Victim), a darling of the
critics that drew mixed responses from the crowd.
This year's 50-member jury -- chaired by award-winning Bosnian director
Danis Tanovic and made up of 50 ordinary moviegoers from across Europe
-- picked more mainstream films for the main prizes.
Among other prize winners was Abolfaz Jalili's "Hafez," which won a special
jury prize; "La Giusta Distanza" (The Right Distance) star Giuseppe Battiston,
who won the prize for Best Italian Performance; Battiston's co-star, Valentina
Lodovini, who won the prize for Best Makeup; Sean Penn's |Into the Wild,"
which won a prize for the Best Film in the Premiere selection; and Forbidden
Lie$," which took home the collateral prize for Best Documentary.
| (c) 2007 The Hollywood Reporter All rights reserved. |
| Volume 77; Number 9 |
| Volume 77; Number 9 |
October 28, 2007
RomaCinemaFest ends
strong; Popular 'Juno' wins
Best Film
October 27, 2007
'Juno' takes home top prize
at RomaCinemaFest
'Canvas,' 'Pride' earn Rome
fest's Alice nods
October 26, 2007
Top prize still up for grabs at
Rome fest
October 25, 2007
'Haifa' earns New Cinema's
Italian nod
October 24, 2007
'Lambs' stars in like lions at
Rome fest
FilmItalia, UniFrance team
for young talent
October 23, 2007
Veneto buyer buzz builds on
Biz Street
Star wattage waning at
Rome fest
October 22, 2007
Coppola lights up Rome fest
October 20, 2007
Depardieu imposter fools
hotel staff in Rome
'Elizabeth,' Loren big draws
at Rome festival
'Elijah' first production at
new I am Third
October 19, 2007
RomaCinemaFest gets
Second Wind
Fellini script 'Viaggio' on
new voyage
October 18, 2007
Rome Fest dressed up in
second outing
Rome Fest dressed up in
second outing
October 12, 2007
RomaCinemaFest sets
sophomore bar higher
Fest success good news for
the last paparazzo
Film spotlight: "Youth
Without Youth"
Italy offers versatile
location, strong incentives
'Business Street' initiative a
high-end venue
RomaCinemaFest owes debt
to Auditorium
September 28, 2007
Rome Fest's love affair with
Hollywood continues
RomaCinemaFest ends
strong; Popular 'Juno' wins
Best Film
October 27, 2007
'Juno' takes home top prize
at RomaCinemaFest
'Canvas,' 'Pride' earn Rome
fest's Alice nods
October 26, 2007
Top prize still up for grabs at
Rome fest
October 25, 2007
'Haifa' earns New Cinema's
Italian nod
October 24, 2007
'Lambs' stars in like lions at
Rome fest
FilmItalia, UniFrance team
for young talent
October 23, 2007
Veneto buyer buzz builds on
Biz Street
Star wattage waning at
Rome fest
October 22, 2007
Coppola lights up Rome fest
October 20, 2007
Depardieu imposter fools
hotel staff in Rome
'Elizabeth,' Loren big draws
at Rome festival
'Elijah' first production at
new I am Third
October 19, 2007
RomaCinemaFest gets
Second Wind
Fellini script 'Viaggio' on
new voyage
October 18, 2007
Rome Fest dressed up in
second outing
Rome Fest dressed up in
second outing
October 12, 2007
RomaCinemaFest sets
sophomore bar higher
Fest success good news for
the last paparazzo
Film spotlight: "Youth
Without Youth"
Italy offers versatile
location, strong incentives
'Business Street' initiative a
high-end venue
RomaCinemaFest owes debt
to Auditorium
September 28, 2007
Rome Fest's love affair with
Hollywood continues