Kidman opens Rome Film Festival

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Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman has opened the first Rome Film Festival with the premiere of her movie Fur.

"I wanted to support this festival and Italy. Film festivals are very good for small films like this one, the more we have the better," said the actress.

Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus, stars Kidman as the photographer with Robert Downey Jr as her mentor.

Sir Sean Connery was honoured with a lifetime achievement award on the eve of the inaugural festival.

'Brilliance'

The 76-year-old, guest of honour at an opening concert at Rome Opera House, said the award was "fantastic".

Festival President Goffredo Bettini said Sir Sean was recognised for "his fame, popularity and his brilliance".

Monica Bellucci is appearing in two festival films

Other movies being shown out of competition include the new film from Batman Begins director Christopher Nolan, The Prestige, Mira Nair's The Namesake and Lasse Hallstrom's The Hoax, starring Richard Gere.

Italian star Monica Bellucci appears in two films making their debut in N - Io e Napoleone (N - Napoleon and I) and Le Concile De Pierre (The Stone Council).

Films competing for the best movie award include This Is England, directed by Shane Meadows, while other stars expected to attend the festival include Leonardo DiCaprio.

Meadows scooped top prize at the British Film Festival in Dinard, France for his revenge thriller Dead Man's Shoes in 2004.

The festival runs until 21 October.