Posted: Tue., Mar. 28, 2006, 2:03pm PT

Pix berth for helmer birth

Rossellini titles include 'Paisa,' 'Year Zero,' 'Stromboli'

By Sheri Jennings

Rossellini

As part of Italy's celebrations for the May 8 centennial of Roberto Rossellini's birth, Cinecitta is restoring and distributing 10 of the neorealist helmer's pics, including "Rome, Open City."

The initiative comes after legal wrangling to acquire master prints and rights to the Rossellini titles by Cinecitta's rights unit, Cinecitta Diritti, in collaboration with Rossellini's son, Renzo Rossellini, who is head of the Roberto Rossellini Foundation.

Other pics include "Paisa," "Germany Year Zero," the Ingrid Bergman starrer "Stromboli" and "Journey to Italy."

"Our first goal is the preservation of the film's master prints and their restoration. Secondly, we want to promote their circulation," said Cinecitta Diritti topper Michele Lo Foco.

Cinecitta Diritti is handling homevid and TV sales rights to the package.