Piera Detassis has been appointed Artistic Director of the Festival Internazionale del Film di Roma, while film producer Roberto Cicutto will serve as Director of the International Film Market.

The appointments were made today by the Fondazione Cinema per Roma Board of Management, following a proposal by Gian Luigi Rondi.

At the same time, the Regulations for the 2009 edition of the Festival were also approved.

The event’s main aim is to focus attention on the best expressions of world cinema, giving space to voices with the widest appeal, featured in the Official Selection, both in and out of competition. The ‘L’altro cinema/Extra‘ section is for new research and occasions that give rise to events aimed at fostering a greater understanding of the important personalities and periods in the history of film, in the past as well as the present. The ‘Alice nella città/Alice in the City‘ section will showcase the best exponents in children’s cinema.

The Artistic Director will work in full autonomy, supported by a Committee of Experts, who will delegate responsibility for the various sections, with Mario Sesti confirmed for ‘L’altro cinema’, Gianluca Giannelli for ‘Alice nella città’, while Gaia Morrione will be responsible for organising initiatives to highlight world cinematographies of particular interest.

The special events, tributes and any eventual exhibitions will be managed by the General Director, Francesca Via, in agreement with the Festival’s President.

The Mercato Internazionale del Film/International Film Market, under the helm of its Director, will vigorously encourage exchanges within the world cinema industry. Held in various locations, it will be organized in close agreement with the main Italian cinema organizations, while also continuing to give space for additional exchanges between producers and directors aimed at funding new works (the ‘Fabbrica dei progetti/New Cinema Network‘).

The public will continue to vote for the Golden Marc’Aurelio Audience Award for Best Film competing in the Official Selection and there will once again be three prizes awarded by a jury of critics (one Golden Marc’Aurelio Critics’ Award for Best Film and two Silver Marc’Aurelio prizes for Best Actress and Best Actor). The ‘Alice nella città’ prizes will become one Bronze Marc’Aurelio voted by children under 12-years-old, and one Bronze Marc’Aurelio awarded by youngsters over-12.

Following a recently drawn-up agreement with the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, the Festival dates for the next three years have been confirmed as follows: from October 15 – 23 in 2009, from October 29 to November 6 in 2010, and from October 28 to November 5 in 2011.