Tiziana Rocca is back. The Italian festivals specialist, producer and marketing whizz has just wrapped the latest edition of the starry Taormina Fi
Tiziana Rocca is back. The Italian festivals specialist, producer and marketing whizz has just wrapped the latest edition of the starry Taormina Film Festival, marking her triumphant return to the Sicilian event that she headed up for five years before being forced to step down in 2017 due to political turmoil.
Indeed, the long running Italian festival has had a tumultuous few years since Rocca’s departure. She lost her legal battle to stay as the festival head in 2017 after she claimed her company Agnus Dei had been left out of the pitching competition for a up-to-date contract. Since then, Taormina has endured a number of ups and downs, seeing a revolving door of artistic directors attempt to step in and revamp the event. Former Venice head Marco Mueller had a brief stint last year before Rocca was brought back aboard for 2025.
For Rocca, her return to Taormina represents a fresh start for the festival and the eight-year absence has given her “renewed energy and timeless passion” to rebuild Taormina into a must-attend event on the film festival calendar.
“This year’s Taormina Film Festival marked a new beginning,” the artistic director tells Deadline. “I couldn’t be prouder. I reintroduced the international competition, which had been absent in recent editions, as a way to revitalize the festival’s core mission – to highlight important global stories.”
The reintroduction of the competitive section comprised of 10 titles, including Whoopi Goldberg and Jeremy Irvine comedy Leopardi & Co and James Ashcroft’s The Rule of Jenny Pen and Alex Garland’s Warfare. It was judged by a jury headed up by The Holdovers star Da’Vine Joy Randolph. Argentine film For Your Sake, directed by Axel Monsù, ended up winning Best Film while Garland and Ray Mendoza nabbed the Best Director Award for Warfare.
Beyond the competition, the picturesque Sicilian city welcomed a host of stars such as Martin Scorsese, Catherine Deneuve, Geoffrey Rush, James Franco, Helen Hunt, Monica Bellucci, Henry Cavill, Billy Zane, Rupert Everett and Jesse Williams, all of whom participated in masterclasses and in conversation events.
“The ancient Greek theater of Taormina – with Mount Etna in the background – once again became the soul of the festival,” says Rocca. “We were honored to see full houses every night. The response from the audience was overwhelming and it proved that Taormina still holds a magical place in the hearts of film lovers.”
Rocca began organizing events at the age of 19 and her career has spanned across the marketing and publicity sectors to film production. When she was named artistic director of the Taormina Film Festival in 2012, it was a major breakthrough for her career. “I was one of the first European women to lead such a historic and prestigious film event,” she says, adding that “the key to success lies in a deep commitment to excellence and resilience – especially as a woman in a male dominated industry.”
Michael Douglas at the opening of the Taormina Film Festival on Tuesday
Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images
She has long been on a mission to bring world-class talent and meaningful projects to Italy, firstly with the Taormina Film Festival and also through Filming Sardegna Italy, a newborn and progressive event that unspools June 19-22, 2025, on the Italian island of Sardinia.
That festival, now entering its eighth edition, is described by Rocca as “an engaging and dynamic festival.”
“It’s more conversational,” she says. “It’s designed to bring audiences face-to-face with the creators behind the screen through intimate masterclasses and discussions.
“Where Taormina is historic and grand, Sardegna is more grounded in mentorship and education. We’ve built strong partnerships with the Ministry of Culture, Cinecittà, Anec, and the Cinema Revolution initiative to champion theatrical releases, especially during the summer. The festival has also become a powerful platform for introducing cinema to younger generations, offering students and aspiring filmmakers a rare opportunity to interact directly with international stars and industry leaders.”
It’s a towering order to run two festivals back-to-back and Rocca admits she is “meticulous” with her planning. “I work with clearly defined medium- and long-term goals so that I’m never caught off guard,” she says. “But I could never do it alone. I’m fortunate to have an extraordinary team that supports me across all areas from production and logistics to hospitality, communications and creative development. At the end of the day, the strength of any festival lies in the people behind it.”
Looking ahead, Rocca admits she has clear goals for the future of both fests and hopes that she can position both Sicily and Sardinia as crucial summer festival destinations for film industry execs and talents.
“My vision for Taormina is to elevate its international stature while remaining deeply rooted in its unique cultural and historical identity,” she says. “I want it to become a true arena of global cinema – open to diverse voices, daring stories and innovative forms of expression. We are already working to expand our competition, bringing in more films from underrepresented countries and emerging filmmakers. I also want to continue inviting guests who connect authentically with the public. In the end, cinema belongs to its audience. The more we bridge creators and viewers, the stronger our impact becomes.”
For Filming Italy Sardegna, she’s keen to build this younger and less time-honored event into a go-to destination for the younger generation. She also heads up the Filming Italy Los Angeles event, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year and “has grown into a significant platform for Italian cinema abroad.”
She adds: “Beyond continuing to develop Sardegna, Taormina and Filming Italy Los Angeles, I’m also producing a feature film titled Judas’ Gospel—a powerful reinterpretation of the story of the apostle Judas. Filming has wrapped, and it’s already secured sales in multiple markets.
“Additionally, my husband, Giulio Base, is the Festival Director of our upcoming initiative in Torino. That festival will have a strong industry focus, tackling topics like artificial intelligence, interactive storytelling, and the future of digital cinema. With Giulio’s vision and our shared commitment, we’re confident it will become a major hub for cinematic innovation in Italy.”
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