With the announcement of the winners, the XXIII edition of the RIFF – Rome Independent Film Festival directed by Fabrizio Ferrari, ends today. With over 80 works selected, in European and World premieres the program was divided into 13 national and international sections: first and second feature films, documentaries, short films, experimental films and animations, subjects and screenplays characterized by originality and innovation of the contents and techniques used.

The Feature Film Award – Best Italian Feature Film goes to Three Infallible Rules by Marco Gianfreda: “For its ability to gently tell the fragility and enigma of love. For having explored the soul of a teenager who must learn what the experience of first love is without ever having learned it from the example of his mother, who in turn must understand how to “float” and abandon herself to an unknown feeling. Mother and son, aware of their different ages, face the complexity of romantic and family relationships with suffering and courage, showing us their fragility and strength. Nature, in its simplicity, offers a liberating beauty, a place where you can “pretend not to be poor”.

The Feature Film Award – Best International Feature Film goes to Salli by Lien Chien Hung (Taiwan/France): “For the ability to lightly narrate a woman’s discovery of her identity and her place in the world. With an unprecedented look at Taiwanese society, a rural environment linked to traditions, in which – through the teenage granddaughter – technology and its unknowns erupt. Reflection on love and cultural comparison with the “Parisian” West, from which Salli returns with a new self-awareness.”

The National Documentary Award – Best Italian Documentary goes to Don’t Shut That Door by Francesco Banesta & Matteo Vicentini Orgnani. “Through faces that seem eternal, the film takes us to one of the most identifying places in the capital, and through an intimate look, it gives the universal portrait of an unstoppable change in society. Porta Portese, such as the Merchè aux puces in Paris or Portobello in London, to name a few, are treasures that should be protected as precious monuments by leaving their doors always open, to avoid their end”.

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The Award for Best International Documentary goes to After the Odyssey by Helen Doyle (Italy/Canada). “Through portraits of women, each with their own art, who offer different points of view, the film returns a rounded story on a tragic issue, without ever indulging in easy pietisms and returns a reality that is sometimes very crude, without ever losing the softness of a poetic gaze”.

A special mention to Memories of a Burning Body by Antonella Sudasassi Furniss (Costa Rica/Spain). “Winner of the Audience Award in Berlin, it is a film between documentary and fiction. An elegantly structured tale that distills the experiences of three women aged between 60 and 70 into a single life that speaks for a generation. The suffocating taboos around female sexuality, love and desire are remembered with admirable candor in a film that poignantly balances insight, humor and emotion.”

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Two special LGBTQIA+ themed prizes awarded by Mario Colamarino, President of the Mario Mieli Club and Giordano Serratore go to the short film Made of Love by Clèmence Dirmeikis (France) and the feature film Underground Orange by Michael Taylor Jackson (USA/Argentina).

The Rai Cinema Channel Award for Best Italian Short goes to “Sommersi” by Gian Marco Pezzoli because it is “a short film that tells us how innocence can be swept away in one fell swoop by recklessness, thanks to two intense young protagonists who lead with great skill in an unexpected drama.”

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The National Short Award – Best Italian Short goes to Easy in, Easy out by Giovanni Boscolo. “An easy little job, it’s a funny comedy, a genre not recently explored in short films, where the story is clear, as are the characters and their relationships, which however evolves and changes in its few minutes. Furthermore, the small final twist is an added value that closes the story and also leads us to reflect on the way we look at the situation and the people.”

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The International short Award – Best International Short goes to Transformation by Marcel Barsotti (Germany). “This short film is a true masterpiece of innovation and creativity. Its visionary nature immediately captures the viewer’s attention, transporting them into a unique and fascinating world. The design is extremely captivating and refined, with every visual detail taken care of with obsessive precision. What makes this short film truly special is its ability to break away from traditional patterns. It doesn’t just follow the conventions of the genre, but dares to explore new avenues, offering a fresh and original experience. The narrative is equally bold, with a plot that challenges expectations and invites reflection. In summary, this short film is a product unlike any other, a work that not only entertains, but inspires and stimulates the mind. Kudos to the entire team for creating something so extraordinary and out of the ordinary.”

A Special Mention for international short films goes to 6.21 by Sergei Ramz (Russian Federation/Israel). “A scathing story, only apparently cold and austere. The story develops at a fast pace, thanks to rapid but exhaustive editing. We are immediately immersed in a universe with rigid and severe lines. A photography strongly based on the precise architecture of the hotel accompanies us throughout the short film. In 6.21, the setting, i.e. the hotel, is the absolute protagonist of the story. 6.21 is a fast-paced, fascinating and sensual short film that keeps you glued to the screen until the end.”

The Animation short Award – Best Animated Short goes to The Strange Case of the Human Cannonball by Roberto Valencia (Ecuador). “A truly fascinating animated short. The screenplay was written with great care, managing to involve the viewer from start to finish. The direction equally skilled and was able to enhance every scene. From a technical point of view, the realization was excellent. The animation style, character designs, use of colors and lighting helped create a unique atmosphere. Every visual element has been taken care of down to the smallest detail, making the viewing experience truly enjoyable.”

The Student Short Award – Best Student Short, goes to Better So by Jaakko Ylitalo, a young Finnish debut director who is currently studying screenwriting at the Turku Academy of Arts. “The film manages to put you into the protagonist’s world, you feel his confusion over the things he can’t understand or remember. You also feel his pain, the sense of loss, not only of his memories but also of himself. Even the ending, although one is partly relieved by the fact that he doesn’t kill himself, represents the loss of control, of being able to decide about one’s own life and therefore sadly becomes bittersweet.”

The Award for Best Screenplay for a Feature Film goes to Marco Minicangeli for “All’ombra del suo corpo”.

The award for Best Short Film Screenplay goes to “Oh boi!” by Sara Mancini.

The Award for Best Subject for a Feature Film goes to “Il burattinaio” by Laura Nuti.