“A good agent is one who allows the actor to express his or her abilities and, above all, ambitions”. This, to Harrison Ford, is the secret to a good film agent and manager. This is furthermore what, to Ford, for over 30 years, Patricia McQueeney – the renowned film agent who passed away last year and is now being celebrated by the RomeFilmFest with an award that carries her name – represented.

The first recipient of the prize to agents and/or managers is Jim Berkus, president of the United Talent Agency (UTA), who was chosen by the award’s Honorary Committee, made up, among others, of Ford, producer Sheryl Lansing the festival’s General Director, Giorgio Gosetti.

Apart from the American actor, the press conference – which was held in the Sala Petrassi and mediated by Teresa Cavina, on the festival’s directors – was attended by Patricia McQueeney Agent Award winner Berkus who, after officially receiving the award at 7:30 pm, will join other guests at a fundraising dinner for the Ride On and Auriga associations, organised by Vanity Fair this evening at the nymphaeum of Villa Giulia, whose guest of honour is Ford.

“Every actor has a unique relationship with his or her manager,” said Ford during the conference. “Pat and I had such a close relationship that we could express all of our opinions freely. It was a constant exchange. Pat was a precise, meticulous, honest woman. Our working and personal relationship was based on exchanging advice. I was 30 when I met Pat. I had arrived in California and wanted to obtain a contract for $150 a day with Columbia Pictures. Pat helped me with this, she was also starting out, but had much more class than we did. Even after years of experiences, actors often lack the capacity to make a business out of their art, as well as relate to production companies and all the people who work in film”.

“An agent is a representative and mediator,” added Berkus. “He’s not just someone who hunts for contracts, as cinema has tried to make people believe for years. He or she has to discover artists and represent them internationally. That is why in 1991 I was one of the founding partners of UTA, to allow artists to let their voices be heard”.

Ford was very positive about the RomeFilmFest: “I am very happy to be here in Rome and wish this budding event all the best. The Auditorium is a wonderful place to hold an event of this kind and I thank the organisation for my being here and presenting this award. The award committee has expanded greatly in recent years, thanks also to support from numerous backers”.

The actor is furthermore very clear about his upcoming projects: “I’ll be back soon as Indiana Jones, the fourth episode in the saga. We’re still working on the screenplay, in which we’ve naturally taken time into account. The time that’s passed, above all, for me. I’m happy to work with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas again. The theatre? It’s been 40 years since I was last onstage. I wouldn’t do today. That truly is work, you have to wake up every day at the same time, go to the same place, work with the same people. Have I ever thought about directing? Absolutely not. It is far too difficult and time-consuming a job.

“I still love films and their immense emotional power. It’s a miracle every time you decide to close yourself in a dark room with strangers to all experience the same thing. Italian cinema? I don’t know it very well. The sexiest actress in the world? Calista Flockhart, naturally”. His wife, naturally.