Asif Kapadia Doc on Liverpool FC Legend Kenny Dalglish to Premiere at Rome Film Festival; Jennifer Lawrence Expected to Attend With ‘Die My Love’
Oscar-winning director Asif Kapadia’s documentary “Kenny Dalglish,” about the iconic Scottish soccer player who led Liverpool Football Club to a slew of victories as both player and manager, is set for a world premiere at the upcoming Rome Film Festival.
“Kenny Dalglish” is the latest doc by Kapadia, known for helming “Senna,” “Amy” and “Diego Maradona.” The Prime Video project is narrated by Dalglish himself and draws from archival footage, including never-before-seen personal clips from Dalglish’s playing career and home life.
The Rome lineup – which, in terms of international fare, is largely made up of titles that have bowed elsewhere on the circuit – represents a rich mix of crowd-pleasers and more eclectic titles.
Artistic director Paola Malanga revealed that Jennifer Lawrence is expected on the Rome red carpet to promote Lynne Ramsay’s “Die My Love,” while Caleb Landry Jones, Christoph Waltz and Matilda De Angelis will be on hand for Luc Besson’s “Dracula: A Love Tale,” which is making its festival bow after releasing in France in July.
Rome’s 18-title competition comprises U.S. director Oscar Boyson’s black comedy about gun violence “Our Hero, Balthazar,” starring Asa Butterfield and Jaeden Martell; Jim Sheridan’s “Re-Creation,” which stars Vicky Krieps and centers on the brutal 1966 murder of French film and TV producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier; Canada-based Iranian director Alireza Khatami’s political drama about the patriarchy “The Things You Kill,” which has been selected to represent Canada at the Oscars; and the world premiere of Italian director Andrea de Sica’s erotic thriller “The Eyes of Others,” starring Jasmine Trinca and Filippo Timi and based on a murky Rome-set affair that made headlines in 1970 involving a marquis who killed his wife and her lover.
As previously announced, Jafar Panahi will be honored by Rome with a Lifetime Achievement Award that he will receive from Oscar-winning director Giuseppe Tornatore. British producer David Puttnam (“Chariots of Fire,” “The Killing Fields”) will receive Rome’s inaugural Industry Lifetime Achievement Award on opening night.
The Rome Film Festival’s 20th edition will run Oct. 15–26.
