The 21st edition of the Rome Film Fest concludes with the triumph of British director Clio Barnard. Her film I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning won the award for best film in the Progressive Cinema Competition, standing out in the international selection of the event. The award ceremony took place on October 25 in the Sala Petrassi of the Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone, in the presence of the protagonists and personalities from the film world.
The winner was chosen by the jury chaired by Polish director Jan Komasa, who recognized the value of Barnard's work, focused on the economic and social difficulties faced by new generations. The evening also saw significant recognition for Italian cinema, with awards given to Paolo Pierobon and Kasia Smutniak, both protagonists of an event characterized by a strong focus on contemporary stories and social themes.
Link to Clio Barnard Wins Best Film and Dedicates the Award to the YouthClio Barnard Wins Best Film and Dedicates the Award to the Youth
The success of I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning represents the central moment of the 2026 awards. The work addresses job insecurity, economic inequalities, and the difficulties many young people face in building an independent future, amid insufficient incomes and housing access issues. Receiving the award, Clio Barnard wanted to share the result with all the people involved in making the film, emphasizing the collective nature of cinematic work.
The director then drew attention to the social tensions crossing various countries, highlighting how economic difficulties can fuel divisions and conflicts. In her speech, she expressed support for youth mobilizations, interpreting them as a response to inequalities and the growing difficulty in accessing essential goods. For Barnard, solidarity and the ability to build relationships are fundamental tools for tackling a social system that tends to widen the gaps between people. The film also won one of the awards for best male performance, given to Anthony Boyle.
Link to Grand Jury Prize to Tim Blake NelsonGrand Jury Prize to Tim Blake Nelson
The second most important recognition of the Progressive Cinema Competition was awarded to The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd, directed by Tim Blake Nelson. The film won the Grand Jury Prize, becoming one of the most appreciated works of this edition. The award confirms the variety of cinematic proposals selected for the competition, which brought together authors and productions from different cultural contexts.
Among the other main awards is the one for best director, given to Rafiki Fariala for Congo Boy. The director achieved a double success, also winning part of the Terna Audience Award, awarded ex aequo to his film and Mustang by Kasia Smutniak.
Link to Paolo Pierobon Best Actor Alongside Anthony BoylePaolo Pierobon Best Actor Alongside Anthony Boyle
Among the Italian protagonists of the evening stands Paolo Pierobon, awarded as best actor for his performance in Brianza. The recognition was given ex aequo with Anthony Boyle, protagonist of the winning film I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning. For Pierobon, the evening ended with double satisfaction. The actor also received the LARA Award, a recognition promoted by the Free Association of Artists' Representatives, now in its eleventh edition.
A result that values the work of the Italian performer and confirms the significant presence of national cinema within the Roman event. The award for best actress was given to Victoria Luengo for her performance in the film Sants.
Link to Best Screenplay to Ashes, Special Award to the Al Mawla FamilyBest Screenplay to Ashes, Special Award to the Al Mawla Family
The main competition jury also awarded screenwriting. The award for best screenplay went to Abia Castillo, Diego Rabasa, and Diego Luna for Ceniza en la boca (Ashes). The Special Jury Award was given to the Al Mawla family for Yesterday the Eye Didn't Sleep. The choice helps outline a varied awards list, where different narrative languages and works capable of addressing human and social experiences through original perspectives find space.
Link to Kasia Smutniak Wins Over the Audience with MustangKasia Smutniak Wins Over the Audience with Mustang
One of the most exciting moments of the award ceremony featured Kasia Smutniak, who received the Terna Audience Award for Mustang, sharing it with Congo Boy by Rafiki Fariala. Visibly moved, the actress and director recalled the value of cinema as a tool capable of conveying emotions and offering new perspectives even in the most challenging times.
Smutniak explained that she wanted to tell a story of hope, set in a small community on the world's margins, where a group of children transforms the search for happiness into a collective experience. The recognition takes on particular significance as it comes directly from the audience's preferences, confirming the film's ability to establish an emotional connection with the event's audience. The award shared with Congo Boy also testifies to the audience's interest in works capable of addressing profound themes through different narrative sensibilities.
Link to Congo Boy Awarded Twice, Fariala Appeals to DistributorsCongo Boy Awarded Twice, Fariala Appeals to Distributors
Rafiki Fariala was also among the protagonists of the closing ceremony. The director of Congo Boy, in addition to winning the award for best director, received the Terna Audience Award ex aequo with Kasia Smutniak. Before receiving the award, Fariala performed a song from the film on stage, giving the audience a particularly engaging moment.
In his speech, he thanked the Roman audience for the warm reception given to the work, expressing hope that the awards won will attract the attention of Italian distributors. The director's hope is that Congo Boy will also reach the country's cinemas, thus expanding the audience beyond the festival circuit.
Link to Best Debut Film to Clementine OrangeBest Debut Film to Clementine Orange
The Rome Film Fest also dedicated significant space to emerging authors. The Best Debut Film Poste Italiane award was given to Clementine Orange by Lisa Forslund, presented in the Freestyle section. The winner was chosen by the jury chaired by screenwriter Ludovica Rampoldi.
A special mention was given to El tren fluvial, directed by Lorenzo Ferro and Lucas A. Vignale. The awards dedicated to debut works are one of the tools through which the event supports new artistic paths, offering visibility to directors entering the international film scene.
Link to Best Documentary to Dans la gueule de l'ogreBest Documentary to Dans la gueule de l'ogre
For the documentary section, the jury chaired by director Roberto Minervini awarded the main prize to Dans la gueule de l'ogre (Into the Jaws of the Ogre) by Mahsa Karampour. A special mention was given to Un hiver russe by Patric Chiha. This category also enriched the program of the 21st edition, confirming the Rome Film Fest's attention to the documentary as an autonomous expressive form and a tool for observing contemporary reality.
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