'819' wins audience prize at Rome fest

ROME, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Giacomo Battiato's political drama "Resolution 819" won the gold Marcus Aurelius award for best film voted by the public at the Rome Film Festival.

The critics' prize for best film went to Afghan director Siddiq Barmak's dark comedy "Opium War," ANSA said.

Italian actress Donatella Finocchiaro earned a silver Marcus Aurelius for best actress for her work in "Galantuomini" and Ukrainian actor Bohdan Stupka took home the equivalent prize for best actor for his performance in "Serce Na Dloni (A Warm Heart.)"

Lifetime achievement awards were also bestowed upon screen icons Al Pacino and Gina Lollobrigida at the film festival -- a 10-day event that attracted celebrities like Colin Farrell, Jessica Biel, Viggo Mortensen and David Cronenberg, ANSA said.

Italy's Culture Minister Sandro Bondi called the film festival "a notable critical and public success."