Mueller named director of Rome film festival

ROME (AP) ― Marco Mueller, the longest-running creative director of the Venice Film Festival, is moving to the Rome International Film Festival.

The Rome festival’s president Paolo Ferrari announced the appointment Friday, saying Mueller was ``esteemed in Italy and abroad.’’

Mueller, whose eight years at Venice were widely regarded as a success, was not confirmed to a third stint last year. He said in a statement he was looking forward to working at the Rome festival, ``which wants to better meet the needs of those who make movies ... and those who see them.’’

The Rome Film Festival launched in 2006, resulting in a short-lived spat over cinematic pre-eminence. Venice, nonetheless, prevailed in terms of star power, world premieres and cinematic successes. Alberto Barbera is the new Venice director.