The Italian President, Giorgio Napolitano, has awarded his High Patronage to the 4th edition of the International Rome Film Festival.

The Secretary General of the Italian Presidency, Donato Marra, communicated the decision to Gian Luigi Rondi, the Festival President, who had made the original request.

On hearing the news, Rondi asked Marra to warmly thank the Italian President for the decision.

Rondi went on to declare that the high honour given to the Festival would be further encouragement to his resolute ambition to ensure the event offers constant support to both cinema and culture as a whole, in the sphere of freedom of expression and those principles and values which President Napolitano is the most authoritative champion and staunch defender in Italy today.