Rome Film Festival selects first titles

'Duchess,' 'Komplex,' 'Pacifique' among slate

By NICK VIVARELLI

'Der Baader Meinhof Komplex,' about the Red Army Faction in 1960s-'70s Germany, will screen at Rome.

'The Duchess,' an 18th century costumer starring Keira Knightley, will screen at rome.

Teutonic terrorism drama "Der Baader Meinhof Komplex," Keira Knightley starrer "The Duchess," omnibus pic "8" and Isabelle Huppert starrer "Un Barrage contre le Pacifique" are among the first titles confirmed to unspool at the Rome Film Festival next month.

United Nations-sponsored "8," which comprises shorts by eight helmers, including Gus Van Sant, Mira Nair and Jane Campion, tackling the subject of hunger, will world preem in Rome, where the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization is headquartered.

Knightley is expected on the red carpet for Saul Dibb's 18th century costumer "The Duchess," which previously world preems in Toronto.

Key talent expected for "Baader Meinhof," recounting the campaign of violence waged by the Red Army Faction in Germany in the late 1960s and '70s, are Bruno Ganz and Alexandra Maria Lara ("The Downfall").

Both pics unspool in Rome's gala premiere section.

Also screening in the Eternal City will be Anthony Wall's BBC-produced Bob Marley docu "Exodus 77," about the making of Marley's eponymous album in 1977.

As previously announced, Rome will celebrate Brazilian cinema this year. One hot title unspooling in this sidebar is young helmer Fernando Grostein Andrade's docu "Coracao Vagabundo," dedicated to pop sensation Caetano Veloso. Veloso is expected to attend and to perform live after the screening.

The 10-day fest's third edition will kick off Oct. 22 with a lavish carnival-like event being prepared by multitasking musician Arto Lindsay.