来自THR Two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett will join the 13th Rome Film Fest to participate in a Close Encounter meeting with the audience and discuss her work as an artist and humanitarian. Blanchett, a seven-time Academy Award nominee, won for her roles in The Aviator (2004) and Blue Jasmine (2013). She has been a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees since 2016. "It is an extraordinary honor to host a wonderful actress such as Cate Blanchett at the Rome Film Fest," said artistic director Antonio Mondo. "The versatility, the passion and the intelligence of her performances have made her one of the greatest protagonists in the history of cinema." Video artist and director Shirin Neshat also will participate in a Close Encounter at the festival, in collaboration with Videocitta. Neshat, winner of the 1999 Venice Silver Lion for best director (Women Without Men), has established herself as one of the world's most visionary artists working today. As previously announced, Martin Scorsese and Isabelle Huppert will receive lifetime achievement awards at the upcoming fest Other guests include Sigourney Weaver, Thierry Fremeaux, Paolo Virzi and Luca Bigazzi. The Rome Film Fest is set to run Oct. 18-28.