Rome Independent Cinema Festival 2024
8-9 October at the Casa del Cinema
The Rome Independent Cinema Festival will take place on 8&9 October at the Casa del Cinema screening a wide range of feature and short films. Loyal to its vision, the annual Film Festival once again brings indie films to the big screen highlighting upcoming talents.
Established in 2018, RICF aims to create an accessible cinematic event, celebrating the power of independent cinema. Therefore, each edition is richer and more diverse with programmes filled with thought-provoking films.
From Poland and Sweden to the United States and the United Kingdom, this year’s edition spans various genres, styles and aesthetics. Each festival day opens with a feature film, followed by a programme with shorts from around the world.
The Festival opens with ‘Ramona at Midlife‘ by the American playwright, screenwriter, and director Brooke Berman. The film explores existential dilemmas and personal transformations through the story of a middle-aged woman. The multi-awarded ‘Beneath a Mother’s Feet’ (Elias Suhail UK) kicks off the shorts programme which consists of four short films.
On the second day, the audience will have the opportunity to watch films from Italy and beyond. Hanna Nobis’s daring documentary ‘Polish Prayers’ builds the portrait of a homophobic Polish Catholic activist who changes both heart and mind to become an active member of the LGBTQIA+ community. This day’s ‘shorts programme’ features 7 short films including Lavinia Petrache’s animation ‘Fracti‘, the experimental ‘Origines-Genesi’ by the Italian Amir RA and the animated short ‘Tennis, Orange’ (dir: Sean Pecknold) which has premiered at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival and screened in competition at Annecy Animation Festival
Join us to discover indie gems from around the world and share one more unique cinematic event with us. We are looking forward to welcoming you to the Rome Independent Cinema Festival 2024!
Programme DAY 1 – 8 October
FEATURE FILM 19.00 – 20.30
Ramona At Midlife, Brooke Berman, 75′ • United States • 2022, Best Feature Film (Fiction)
‘Ramona At Midlife’ is a dark comedy about a single mother and former Literary It Girl who discovers that her unflattering current reality is the subject of a hot filmmaker’s newest project. As Ramona faces up to her disappointments and wrecked friendships, she finds true creative power and is finally ready to become her best self.
——- Break: 20:30 – 20:40 ———
SHORTS PROGRAMME: 20.40 – 22.20
Beneath a Mother’s Feet, Elias Suhail, 16′ • United Kingdom • 2023, Best Short Film (Fiction)
A single mother in Morocco, trapped in a mundane existence, confronts her dreams and fears, leading to the agonising decision to forsake all she knows, even her children.
The Last Dream, Davide Maria Marucci, 20′ • Italy • 2024, Best Short Film (Fiction)
After the announcement of forthcoming layoffs in the factory where he works, Dario stages the protest and calls his colleagues to join it. His mission is held back by the illness of his father, Mario, who previously participated in the riots back in the Seventies. Dario looks after him at home along with the help of his partner, Simona. The confrontation with the elderly father, who educated him in an outdated ideology, puts him at a crossroads: continuing the protest or accepting the offer of his bosses? With a child on the way and a past to deal with, Dario will make his choice.
Nusa Ina, Anne Jan Sijbrandij, 34′ • Netherlands • 2023, Best Short Film (Documentary)
60 years after they immigrated to the Netherlands, Loey Tamaëla and his family are still hoping to one day return to the free Moluccas. Their memories of Nusa Ina, the mother island, strengthen a dream of protecting their Moluccan identity. Perhaps knowing that everything will eventually become history.
Have You Seen This Man?, Daniel Bishop, 6′ • United Kingdom • 2023, Best Short Film (Fiction)
Have You Seen This Man?’ is a comedy short film about the digital nomad experience. It is a silly satire on the modern phenomenon of people working remotely abroad and it focuses on a man-child who has abandoned all of his worldly responsibilities on the assumption that by moving far away he will finally be able to find himself.
Love Passing By, Leonardo Angellotti, 15′ • Italy • 2022, Best Short Film (Experimental)
At 18 Leo and Luca drive around town by night to enjoy their freedom, but when they almost run over a girl and discover that an undesirable passenger is in their car, the night takes a strange turn. A tale about growing up, sensuality and the fear of adults.
Programme DAY 2 – 9 October
FEATURE FILM 19.00 – 20.30
Polish Prayers, Hanna Nobis, 88′ • Poland • 2022, Best Feature Film (Documentary)
Antek, 22, grows up in a deeply religious and radical right-wing family in contemporary Poland. Catholicism, nationalism and especially celibacy define his world. Filmmaker Hanna Nobis follows him and his friends of the Brotherhood, a small group of like-minded young men, for more than four years. Antek leads them in survival camps and at anti-Pride demonstrations. At the same time, he is curious about the world, and mostly, about the women in it.
——- Break: 20:30 – 20:40 ———
PROGRAMME 2: 20.40 – 22.20
Portrait of a Disappearing Woman, Nelson Polfliet. 20′ • Belgium • 2022, Best Short Film (Fiction)
Worn out by everyday routine, fifty-nine-year-old fishmonger Sabine decides to leave her fish shop and ventures into the world outside of her countryside village. Her quickest escape, the village school bus, brings her to the Museum of Royal Arts in Ghent, where a museum audio guide helps her find the elevation she unknowingly sought.
Fracti, Lavinia Petrache, 6′ • Switzerland • 2023, Best Short Film (Animation)
Humans live their routines inside a village floating in the sky. What happens when one of them causes the world to end?
Origines-Genesi, Amir RA, 14′ • Italy • 2023, Best Short Film (Experimental)
Once upon a time, in a remote time, there was a distant land, a crossroads where men, women and children, moved by a profound sense of survival and rebellion, sought themselves and their destiny. One night, at sunset, three confused and melancholy souls named Ori, Gin and Nes embarked on their journey in search of their origin, identity and place in the world, awakening the most intimate part of themselves. A mystical fairy tale that questions the human being’s need to understand who he is and where he comes from. Through its protagonists emerge the almost primordial emotions of every human being who, since ancient times, has always wondered how much control one can have over one’s destiny.
I’m Here, Vilma Kartalska, 4′ • Bulgaria • 2022, Best Short Film (Fiction)
Zoya returns from shopping to her grandmother’s house. There she comes across one of the most natural and sure parts of life, which, however, always catches us unprepared. How will she react? A story about one of the thousands of possible encounters with HER, the outcome of which is always unique.
Threads of Desire, Bianca Di Marco, 9′ • Italy • 2022, Best Student Film
An Italian farmer’s monotonous life is unsettled after she steals an elegant dress.
Tennis, Oranges, Sean Pecknold, 11′ • United States • 2024, Best Short Film (Animation)
A robotic vacuum suffering from burnout quits its job at a hospital and sets out to find community and a greater purpose on a quiet street where two lonely rabbits are stuck in perpetual loops.
Sharks in Colwyn Bay, Jonathan Williams, 16′ • United Kingdom • 2024, Best Student Film
When his dream business comes under threat by a predatory loan shark, Welsh restaurateur Dick must take drastic action to protect his beloved, tacky Spanish tapas restaurant.
Address
Casa del Cinema
Villa Borghese
Largo Marcello Mastroianni, 1, 00197 Roma RM, Italy
Tel: +39 06 4040 1604
Starting time: 19.00
Entrance is Free
Films are in English or with English subtitles
Links:
www.facebook.com/romecinemafest/
www.instagram.com/romecinemafest
Rome Independent Cinema Festival 2024
Programme DAY 1 – 8 October
FEATURE FILM 19.00 – 20.30
Ramona At Midlife, Brooke Berman, 75′ • United States • 2022,
Ramona At Midlife is a dark comedy about a single mother and former Literary It Girl who discovers that her unflattering current reality is the subject of a hot filmmaker’s newest project. As Ramona faces up to her disappointments and wrecked friendships, she finds true creative power and is finally ready to become her best self.
——- Break: 20:30 – 20:40 ———
SHORTS PROGRAMME: 20.40 – 22.20
Beneath a Mother’s Feet, Elias Suhail, 16′ • United Kingdom • 2023, Best Short Fiction Film
A single mother in Morocco, trapped in a mundane existence, confronts her dreams and fears, leading to the agonising decision to forsake all she knows, even her children.
The Last Dream, Davide Maria Marucci, 20′ • Italy • 2024, Best Short Fiction Film
After the announcement of forthcoming layoffs in the factory where he works, Dario stages the protest and calls his colleagues to join it. His mission is held back by the illness of his father, Mario, who previously participated in the riots back in the Seventies. Dario looks after him at home along with the help of his partner, Simona. The confrontation with the elderly father, who educated him in an outdated ideology, puts him at a crossroads: continuing the protest or accepting the offer of his bosses? With a child on the way and a past to deal with, Dario will make his choice.
Nusa Ina, Anne Jan Sijbrandij, 34′ • Netherlands • 2023, Best Short Documentary Film
60 years after their immigration to the Netherlands, Loey Tamaëla and his family are still hoping to one day return to the free Moluccas. Their memories of Nusa Ina, the mother island, strengthen a dream of protecting their Moluccan identity. Perhaps knowing that everything will eventually become history.
Have You Seen This Man?, Daniel Bishop, 6′ • United Kingdom • 2023, Best Short Fiction Film
Have You Seen This Man?’ is a comedy short film about the digital nomad experience. It is a silly satire on the modern phenomenon of people working remotely abroad and it focuses on a man-child who has abandoned all of his worldly responsibilities on the assumption that by moving far away he will finally be able to find himself.
Love Passing By, Leonardo Angellotti, 15′ • Italy • 2022 Short Film (Experimental)
At 18 Leo and Luca drive around town by night to enjoy their freedom, but when they almost run over a girl and discover that an undesirable passenger is in their car, the night takes a strange turn. A tale about growing up, sensuality and the fear of adults.
Programme DAY 2 – 9 October
FEATURE FILM 19.00 – 20.30
Polish Prayers, Hanna Nobis, 88′ • Poland • 2022, Feature Documentary Film
Antek, 22, grows up in a deeply religious and radical right-wing family in contemporary Poland. Catholicism, nationalism and especially celibacy define his world. Filmmaker Hanna Nobis follows him and his friends of the Brotherhood, a small group of like-minded young men, for more than four years. Antek leads them in survival camps and at anti-Pride demonstrations. At the same time, he is curious about the world, and mostly, about the women in it.
——- Break: 20:30 – 20:40 ———
PROGRAMME 2: 20.40 – 22.20
Portrait of a Disappearing Woman, Nelson Polfliet. 20′ • Belgium • 2022, Short Fiction Film Worn out by everyday routine, fifty-nine-year-old fishmonger Sabine decides to leave her fish shop and ventures into the world outside of her countryside village. Her quickest escape, the village school bus, brings her to the Museum of Royal Arts in Ghent, where a museum audio guide helps her find the elevation she unknowingly sought.
Fracti, Lavinia Petrache, 6′ • Switzerland • 2023, Short Animation Film
Humans live their routines inside a village floating in the sky. What happens when one of them causes the world to end?
Origines-Genesi, Amir RA, 14′ • Italy • 2023, Short Experimental Film
Once upon a time, in a remote time, there was a distant land, a crossroads where men, women and children, moved by a profound sense of survival and rebellion, sought themselves and their destiny. One night, at sunset, three confused and melancholy souls named Ori, Gin and Nes embarked on their journey in search of their origin, identity and place in the world, awakening the most intimate part of themselves. A mystical fairy tale that questions the human being’s need to understand who he is and where he comes from. Through its protagonists emerge the almost primordial emotions of every human being who, since ancient times, has always wondered how much control one can have over one’s destiny.
I’m Here, Vilma Kartalska, 4′ • Bulgaria • 2022, Short Fiction Film
Zoya returns from shopping to her grandmother’s house. There she comes across one of the most natural and sure parts of life, which, however, always catches us unprepared. How will she react? A story about one of the thousands of possible encounters with HER, the outcome of which is always unique.
Threads of Desire, Bianca Di Marco, 9′ • Italy • 2022, Student Film
An Italian farmer’s monotonous life is unsettled after she steals an elegant dress. 9′ • Italy • Italian 2022
Tennis, Oranges, Sean Pecknold, 11′ • United States • 2024, Short Animation Film
A robotic vacuum suffering from burnout quits its job at a hospital and sets out to find community and a greater purpose on a quiet street where two lonely rabbits are stuck in perpetual loops.
Sharks in Colwyn Bay, Jonathan Williams, 16′ • United Kingdom • 2024, Student Film
When his dream business comes under threat by a predatory loan shark, Welsh restaurateur Dick must take drastic action to protect his beloved, tacky Spanish tapas restaurant.
Address
Casa del Cinema
Villa Borghese
Largo Marcello Mastroianni, 1, 00197 Roma RM, Italy
Tel: +39 06 4040 1604
Doors open: 17.30
Starting time: 18.00
Entrance is Free
Films are in English or with English subtitles
Links:
www.facebook.com/romecinemafest/
www.instagram.com/romecinemafest