# Female representation at Rome Film Festival

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/female-representation-at-rome-film-festival
> Updated: 2026-09-25T19:22:03.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2.

The 21st Rome Film Festival, scheduled for October 13 to 25, is implementing a focus on female representation in cinema. In the Progressive Cinema competition, women are directing six of the 18 films in contention, including works such as Susanna Nicchiarelli’s ‘Giorni Felici’ and Kasia Smutniak’s documentary ‘Mustang’. 

Artistic director Paola Malanga stated that while female filmmakers are present, their numbers have not yet reached desired levels. To support this objective, the festival has established a collaboration with the Casa Internazionale delle Donne to host meetings regarding films and documentaries. The lineup also includes ‘Nowruz, nuovo giorno’ by Francesco Cannavà, which examines the lives of young Iranian women.

## Claims

- The 21st edition of the Rome Film Festival will take place from October 13 to 25. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Female directors are present in cinema, though not yet at the desired percentage. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Six out of 18 films in the Progressive Cinema competition are directed by women. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Susanna Nicchiarelli and Kasia Smutniak are among the female directors in the main competition. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The festival has established a new collaboration with the Casa Internazionale delle Donne. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- International stars including Jenna Ortega, Julianne Moore, and Javier Bardem will attend the festival. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The film ‘Nowruz, nuovo giorno’ has been selected for the Special Screenings section. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-25: Rome Film Festival emphasizes female directors in upcoming edition

The Rome Film Festival (Oct 13–25) highlights female directors, with six of 18 Progressive Cinema entries led by women and a new partnership with Casa Internazionale delle Donne.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rome-film-festival-emphasizes-female-directors-in-upcoming-edition

### 2026-09-07: Bande de Femmes feminist comic festival returns to Rome

The Bande de Femmes feminist comic festival returns to Rome from September 7 to 10, featuring youth workshops and a presentation on the history of piracy.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bande-de-femmes-feminist-comic-festival-returns-to-rome

---
Cite as: Female representation at Rome Film Festival. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/female-representation-at-rome-film-festival