Samantha Cristoforetti presents the docu-film "Astrosamantha la prima italiana nello spazio"

It's been a full week of star/studded premieres with four nights of events preceding the opening of the 10^th Rome Film Fest, which will be held from Friday October 16th to Saturday 24th. The events have begun at the MAXXI - National Museum of XXI Century Arts, and the Casa del Cinema, before converging to the Auditorium Parco della Musica, which has been the heart of the festival since its very first edition.

The first event took place on October 12th at the MAXXI- National Museum of XXI Century Arts, when Samantha Cristoforetti, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut, Italian Air Force Capitan, and flight engineer for the second long-term mission of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), presented the docu-film "Astrosamantha la prima italiana nello spazio", a beautiful, inspiring documentary about the first Italian woman in space. The film, directed and produced by Gianluca Cerasola, a journalist and international reporter, was made in collaboration with ESA, ASI and the Aeronautica Militare. With the narrative voice of Italian actor Giancarlo Giannini, the director follows Samantha Cristoforetti for three years, from her training to her return from space, showing us a new side of the woman who was awarded the highest Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, the title of Cavaliere di Gran Croce, upon her return from her mission.

With a backdrop of exceptional photography, director Gianluca Cerasola gives us an inside look at the personality of Cristoforetti, a woman that is often seen in the media talking about her profession but rarely about herself. The film shows us the intense training for the mission that took place on three continents along with some lighter moments with friends, including a group of women she met through NASA that call themselves the "Tank Girls." The quality of Cristoforetti's personality that I appreciate the most after watching this film is her ability to stay calm and smile under any circumstance. I'm sure that quality has helped her get to where she is today.

In person, she was gracious in posing for photos and talking with fans. She stood by Cerasola's side as he gleamed with pride at the masterpiece he and his team created. Cristoforetti took a few moments to chat with a young fan that was looking up to her with complete adoration in her eyes. It was a sweet moment and all the paparazzi gathered around to make the most of it.

Samantha Cristoforetti is well-connected with her fans on social media and is always posting interesting updates. You can follow her on Twitter at @AstroSamantha as well as American astronaut Terry Virts, who was on the same mission and featured throughout the film.

We will keep you posted on the international distribution of "Astrosamantha la prima italiana nello spazio". In the meantime, check out the film's trailer (with English subtitles) on Vimeo.

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