'Moonlight' to open Rome Film Festival

Director Barry Jenkin's "Moonlight" will open the upcoming 11th edition of Rome Film Festival.
The much-buzzed about film, which will have its European premiere in Rome, is already at the center of a great deal of awards chatter, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The new film from the "Medicine for Melancholy" director explores the life of a young black man growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami as he struggles to find his place in the world through topics of friends, family and love.
The film stars Alex Hibbert, Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Jharrell Jermome, Ashton Sanders, Andre Holland and Janelle Monae.

"Moonlight is an extraordinary film, at the same time powerful and tender, realistic and poetic. It is a great honour to open the Rome Film Fest with such a work of art," said Rome's artistic director Antonio Monda.
"This is a film destined to go a long and successful way and which will stay in our hearts; it also confirms the great, genuine talent of Barry Jenkins."
The film played Telluride and Toronto and will play in New York before being released in the US on October 21.