Meryl Streep, Richard Gere and George Clooney

The Associated Press, Friday, September 25, 2009, 7:00am (PDT)

ROME (AP) -- Meryl Streep, Richard Gere and George Clooney are among the film stars attending this year's Rome Film Festival.

Also expected to walk the red carpet are Colin Farrell, Helen Mirren and Anthony Hopkins.

Movies screening out of competition at the Oct. 15-22 festival include "Julie & Julia," with Streep, and Joel and Ethan Coen's "A Serious Man."

Organizers said Friday that 14 films will compete for the Best Movie Award, including Jason Reitman's comic drama "Up in the Air," featuring Clooney, and "Triage," with Farrell.

The festival also will screen scenes from the highly-anticipated vampire sequel "The Twilight Saga: New Moon."

Rome, now at its fourth season, is becoming part of the international circuit of movie festivals.