The Hollywood Reporter referred to it as "the last major film festival of the year" and "a key stopping point on the road to the Academy Awards.

[8] Notable board members include Bille August,[9] Paul Haggis, Tony Renis,[10] Dante Ferretti, Gianni Quaranta, among others.

[11] Previous notable honourees were Jim Sheridan,[12] Helen Mirren,[13] Sophia Loren,[2] Frank Langella,[14] Dario Argento,[15] Francesco De Gregori,[16] Brenda Blethyn,[16] Bradley Cooper,[17] Greta Gerwig.

[18] Films that had their Italian premiere at the festival include 12 Years a Slave,[19] Little Women,[2] Beasts of the Southern Wild,[20] Room,[21] Precious,[22] May December,[23] among others.

Feature, medium and short films that compete in the international section, cannot participate in any other local festivals.