Taormina Film Festival Head Tiziana Rocca Says She Wants to Deliver a ‘Human Festival’ Amidst AI Boom, Asks Stars to Be ‘Generous’ to Local Audiences

The festival's artistic director is gearing up for another edition of the Sicilian event, which will welcome major names such as Helen Mirren, Russell Crowe, Clive Owen and Jane Campion

By Rafa Sales Ross

Rafa Sales Ross

Guest Contributor

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Last year, Italian marketing guru Tiziana Rocca returned to the post of artistic director of Italy’s Taormina Film Festival eight years after she was forced to step down due to political infighting following a successful five-year stint. The festivals specialist, who nurtures close ties to Hollywood, revived Taormina’s competitive strands and brought major names such as Martin Scorsese to speak at the festival in her return year. 

This year’s edition is set to be another starry one, with major names such as Helen Mirren, Russell Crowe, Clive Owen, Jane Campion and Scott Eastwood set to land in the Sicilian town next week. Speaking with Variety amidst preparations for the upcoming event, Rocca says her priority is to build a festival that “feels like it is for everybody.”

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