30 March-2 April. 66 Days, a documentary about Bobby Sands, will have its Italian premiere at the tenth Irish Film Festa, Italy's only film festival dedicated completely to Irish cinema, which takes place at Rome’s Casa del Cinema from 30 March to 2 April.

The documentary by Brendan J. Byrne focuses on the 66 days of hunger strike in 1981 that led to the death of Bobby Sands in Long Kesh prison. The film examines the symbolic and cultural value of fasting in Ireland's historical-political context and is based on the prison diaries kept by Sands, with narration by actor Martin McCann, who is expected to attend the festival.

The history of the Troubles in Northern Ireland and their cinematic representation in works such as Angel, Some Mother's Son, Nothing Personal, The Boxer and Hunger, will also be the focus of a conference at the festival by Prof. Martin McLoone (University of Ulster, Emeritus).

Martin McCann will also be at the festival in his capacity as co-director of Starz, one of the 15 short films in this year's competition section.

Under the patronage of the embassy of Ireland, the annual festival screens Irish feature films, documentaries and short films, and provides conferences and public interviews with special guests from the Irish film sector.

All films are screened in their original language versions with Italian subtitles. Entry is free. For full details see website.