Paola Malanga Named Artistic Director of Rome Film Fest

Paola Malanga has been appointed Artistic Director of the Festa del Cinema di Roma for the 2022-2024 term, succeeding Antonio Monda after his seven-year tenure. The announcement follows Gian Luca Farinelli's recent appointment as President of Fondazione Cinema per Roma. Malanga, a journalist and film critic, co-founded the magazine Duel and contributed to Paolo Mereghetti's Dizionario dei Film. She authored essays on cinema greats, including a 2022 reissue on François Truffaut, and served as deputy director of Rai Cinema. Farinelli praised her as an extraordinary professional in Italian and international cinema, hinting at a year-round festival project. Filmmakers Gianfranco Rosi, Alice Rohrwacher, and Pietro Marcello welcomed her appointment, citing her talent, cultural depth, and artistic sensitivity. The festival, held at Auditorium Parco della Musica, has faced budget constraints and identity shifts; Malanga's leadership signals a potential return to a traditional festival format.