International Rome Film Festival

Facing Genocide nominated for Best Documentary Film

(30 Oct. - 5 Nov. 2010 in Rome, Italy)

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David Aronowitsch standing besides photos of various films, including Facing Genocide (2 Nov. 2010.) after our meeting with Jacopo, and before his meeting and my frolicking through Rome, mainly the Vatican City.  After two previous days of dreary cold weather, the sun shone gloriously for my adventure.  The previous evening David and I came to the Auditorium to check out the scene and could hardly move through the very chic crowd of the Hollywood type and open wine bar.  We thought, Wow!, it is possible that this 5th Festival is drawing 2 M visitors.  (We found out in hindsight that Bruce Springsteen was just there at the Auditorium to promote his film The Promise.)  We had  a very late dinner at 10:30 p.m. (but normal for Italians) at La Friseria, a very Italian place around the corner from the hotel serving the best Italian food.  But it didn't take long to realize that most restaurants serve the best Italian food!

Theary Seng in St. Peter's Square (Rome, 2 Nov. 2010)

On way back, along the Tiber River, to Auditorium for the 4 p.m. meeting, here with Vatican City in the background (Rome, 2 Nov. 2010).

After a full morning walking to and from the Vatican City intentionally in a circuitous route through the city and along the Tiber River, I returned for a 4 p.m. meeting with a journalist.  But the event turned into a full-blown hour of serious numerous  photo shoots and other TV/radio interviews, unexpected and unprepared by me.  Official IRFF Portrait Session, 2 Nov. 2010.  David and I are joined by brother Sina and producer Tobias.

Interview with Australian-Italian journalist at IRFF (Rome, 2 Nov. 2010)

Another hour of TV interviews for Italian and international programs in late afternoon, 2 Nov. 2010 at IRFF, Italy.  The four of us had dinner upon recommendation at a restaurant south of the Vatican City, arriving at 7-ish but was told to come back at 8 p.m. when it is open.  After serious negotiation, they let us stay and served us what seemed to be the most homemade authentic Italian meal.  It's hard not to talk about the great Italian food.  I don't know how the Italian people stay so thin.  We used our accreditation which allowed us to see all films without charge to watch The Rainmakers for the reasons that it was in the same venue and at same time as Facing Genocide, but one night before.   We thought it was really mediocre, as did the rest of the audience and it surprised us greatly it won (as we thought the real competition was Bruce Springsteen's The Promise).

The beautiful Navona Square, 3 Nov. 2010

The perfect dome of the Pantheon built 2,000 years ago - an impossible feat even for today! (Photo: Sina Seng, 3 Nov. 2010)

Ruins on Via Dei Fori Imperiali where brother Sina and I took a 2 hr break smoking Cuban cigars over wine, soaking the scenes (Rome, 3 Nov. 2010)

Theary Seng in front of Colosseum, (Rome, 3 Nov. 2010) after a relaxing 2 hours smoking Cuban cigars with brother Sina over wine at an open air restaurant encircled by ruins of thousand years old (above photo).

Brother Sina in front of Trevi Fountain, 3 Nov. 2010

Before dinner and the screening at Hotel Villa Glori, 3 Nov. 2010

About 10 photographers with a few TV news crew were still out when we arrived on the red carpet for screening of Facing Genocide at 10 p.m.

Rome Film Festival, towards the end (Daring To Do)

Late Q&A after screening, here with translator.

Here, David with moderator and translator.

Theary with translator.

The Robert F. Kennedy Foundation of Europe staff Valentina and Fiammetta came to the screening and stayed for the Q&A - "Cambodia's Fierce Eyes"

After screening with affable IRFF Jacopo, (Italy, 3 Nov. 2010)

I had one day before evening departure and decided to return to the Vatican City with brother Sina to visit the Vatican Museum, a must stop for visitors - 2 kilometers long of ornate ceilings, art pieces, intricate tile designs ending with the Sistine Chapel (Photo: Sina Seng, Rome, 4 Nov. 2010)

Exit stairwell of Vatican Museum (Photo: Sina Seng, Rome, 4 Nov. 2010)

Enjoying a last meal and Cuban cigars with brother Sina at restaurant outside Vatican Museum before preparing to depart Rome (4 Nov. 2010).