Italian film festival to honor Polanski
ROME (Hollywood Reporter) - Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski, a fugitive from American justice, will be honored at the Turin Film Festival in November.
Polanski, 74, won a best director Oscar for 2002's "The Pianist" and received nominations for "Tess" in 1979, "Chinatown" in 1973 and "Rosemary's Baby" from 1968.
He fled the United States in 1978 rather than risk serving extended prison time after being convicted of having unlawful sex with a minor. A documentary that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January, "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired," suggests he was the victim of a gross miscarriage of justice.
Monday's announcement, which precedes the start of the November 21-29 festival by a full nine months, comes on the heels of Polanski's cameo appearance in "Caos Calmo" (Quiet Chaos), which Turin festival artistic director Nanni Moretti co-wrote and starred in. The film screened to lukewarm reviews in competition in Berlin but has been a hit in Italy.
"I knew I would like for him to come to Turin, but I did not want to ask while we were shooting the film," Moretti said during an interview with state broadcaster RAI. "But I sent him a note afterward, and he accepted."
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
