THE SECOND EDITION OF RIDF IS OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS
The Rome International Documentary Festival was born to celebrate the art of documentary filmmaking. Founded by two filmmakers, Emma Rossi Landi and Christian Carmosino Mereu - former directors of Il Mese del Documentario (2011-2014) - RIDF brings the best of Italian and international documentary films to Rome, Italy.
Documentary filmmaking represents a unique way of investigating and understanding our present, bringing unusual points of view to the public, promoting a deeper knowledge of our contemporary world, removed from the conventional cliches of the mainstream media
Moreover, documentary filmmaking allows space for experimentation, often giving birth to original and courageous aesthetics. It can become ground of intense research in the areas of cinematic and conceptual innovation.
The Rome International Documentary Festival offers a week of high-level, creative, and unique documentary films, with urgent themes and personal perspectives. It is addressed to the general public, while serving as a venue of in-depth conversation between filmmakers and film professionals.
2022- THE FIRST EDITION
The first edition of RIDF took place from 24 September to 1 October 2022 at the Cinema delle Province, in Rome. The Roman public reacted enthusiastically, with peaks of 170 spectators at the screening. The 10 films in competition (5 Italian, 5 international), all Roman Premieres, were screened in two replicas. The opening night featured well-known American director Bill Morrison, with the screening of his film Dawson City: Frozen Time. During the days of the festival, Mr. Morrison held a very popular masterclass on the use of "found footage", organised by and located at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, Italy’s main film school.
The Festival was enriched by masterclasses on topics such as photography in documentary filmmaking ("I’m your Eye" held by Costanza Quatriglio and Sabrina Varani) and editing ("Who sees the Elephant?"held by Beppe Leonetti and Aline Hervé).
A round-table held by filmmakers served as a moment of exchange on the future of the documentary in Italy: it was an intense moment of communication and growth for professionals
More than 1000 spectators attended the screenings and voted for the Audience Award, which was won by the film "Dear Mama" by Alice Tomassini.
The other main prizes were awarded by an international jury led by Bill Morrison with Roberto Silvestri, Gianfranco Pannone, Florencia Santucho and Daniela Bassani.
The winners of the first edition were:
Best international documentary of €1,000 "Charme Circle" by Nira Burstein,
Best Italian documentary, always of €1,000, instead went to "Kristos, the last child" by Giulia Amati.
Minor awards were also given for Best Photography, Best sound and best editing, and awards in services given by Aamod, Augustus Color, and Zalab.
2023- THE NEW EDITION
The second edition of the Rome International Documentary Festivals will take place from December 1st to 7th 2023 at the Nuovo Cinema Aquila in Rome.
The aim, after the success of the first edition, is to enrich the program, making the festival a real reference point for both documentary filmmakers and film lovers. We aim to deepen the documentary film culture, by creating ever greater audience participation, as well as provoking thought around the topics covered and create debate on urgent issues of our contemporary world.
The Festival will be divided in the following sections:
INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION -10 films in competition (Italian or International), finished after January 1st 2022, will run for a €2000 cash prize, to be voted by an international jury of film professionals. Minimum 45 minutes running time.
DOC-ITALIA- 8 Italian documentaries, finished after January 1st 2022, will run for the audience award. Minimum 45 minutes running time.
SHORT-DOC, an online competition will be dedicated to short documentary films, maximum 30 minutes running time. These films will be voted online and the winner will be screened at the cinema venue and receive a cash prize,
-BEST ENVIRONMENTAL FILM - An award will be given for best film with an environmental topic.
Minor awards were also given for Best Photography, Best sound and best editing.
The positive experience of the masterclasses will be repeated and enriched with meetings in the afternoon, instead of morning, to give the opportunity to even more people to participate.
Registration for the second edition of the RIDF will open on April 3rd and will close on September 15, 2023. The selected films will be announced by 1 November 2023.
(In Italiano a Seguire)
INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION -10 films in competition (Italian or International), finished after Jan 1st 2022, will run for a €2000 cash prize, to be voted by an international jury of film professionals. Minimum 45 minutes running time.
DOC-ITALIA- 8 Italian documentaries, finished after Jan 1st 2022, will run for the €1000 audience award. Minimum 45 minutes running time.
SHORT-DOC, an online competition will be dedicated to short documentary films, maximum 30 minutes running time. These films will be voted online and the winner will be screened at the cinema venue and receive a cash prize. These films must be finished after Jan 1st 2022.
-BEST ENVIRONMENTAL FILM - An award will be given for best film with an environmental topic.
Minor awards were also given for Best Photography, Best sound and best editing.
ITALIANO:
INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION -10 films(Italiani o Internazionali), finiti dopo il 01/01/ 2022, concorreranno per un premio di €2000 che sarà attribuito da una giuria di professionisti internazionale. Durata minima 45 minuti.
DOC-ITALIA- 8 documentari italiani, finiti dopo il 1/01/ 2022, concorreranno per il premio del pubblico di €1000. Durata minima 45 minuti.
SHORT-DOC, un concorso online, dedicato ai documentari di durata di MASSIMO 30 Minuti. Questi film verranno votati online ed il vincitore verrà proiettato durante le giornate del festival. Concorreranno per un premio in denaro. Questi corti dovranno essere stati terminati dopo il 1/01/ 2022.
-Un premio verrà attribuito per miglior film a TEMATICA AMBIENTALE