MedFilm Fest appeals for more funds

If more funds are not forthcoming, this year's edition of the MedFilm Festival could be its last, festival director Ginella Vocca said at a press conference on Tuesday. ''The MedFilm festival is Rome's oldest film festival. This year we turn 18,'' Vocca said. ''We are an economic driver for the city, we create jobs for qualified young people, we always win public bids. But our funding has been slashed by 60% over last year. If things don't change, we will no longer be able to run this festival.'' This year's budget was just 45,000 euros, Vocca added. A pittance when compared to the 2.5 million euros that went to the city's Fiction Fest, while the Rome Feast will have a budget of 12 million euros.