David Rooney began contributing to Variety in 1991, becoming its chief Italian correspondent and film reviewer in 1994. He relocated to New York for Variety at the start of 2003 and became chief theater critic in 2004. Born in Australia, he lived in Sydney, London and traveled extensively in the U.S. before moving to Rome in 1989. He entered the film industry via the exhibition sector, managing arthouse cinemas in Sydney and London, where he was a contributor to Time Out magazine. While based in Rome, he appeared frequently on film-related programs on Italian Canal Plus affiliate Telepiu and was one of the hosts of popular RAI Radio 3 show Hollywood Party. Rooney has covered the principal international film festivals for Variety, including Cannes, Venice, Sundance, Toronto, Rotterdam, Locarno and San Sebastian.
