4th Abu Dhabi Film Festival

Two days ago the most magnanimous festival (award money prizes are the highest in the fest circuit) had its opening ceremony with none other than Secretariat opening the every year more famous festival.

Most films at the Narrative Competition are known to the blog, but I suggest you check the films at the New Horizons Competition here.

I’ll be posting award winners when announced. Been trying to add a video here but for whatever reasons does not work, if you feel like watching some videos from the October 14 opening ceremony go here.

15th Pusan International Film Festival

The festival screened 306 films from 67 countries with 101 world premieres and 52 international premieres which are record numbers for the fest. Yesterday was the awards ceremony and here are the winners.

New Curents Award
The Journals of Musan, Park Jung-Bum, Korea
Bleak Night, Yoon Sung-Hyun, Korea

Flash Forward Award: Pure, Lisa Lngseth, Sweden
Special Mention: Erratum, Marek Lechki, Poland


FIPRESCI Award: The Journals of Musan, Park Jung-Bum, Korea
NETPAC Award: Dooman River, Zhang Lu, Korea
Audience Award: My Spectacular Theatre, Lu Yang, China

To check awards for documentaries and shorts go here and to browse films go here.

54th BFI London Film Festival

I was looking forward to be able to go this year to the fest but well, maybe next year; today is the opening of the fest with the Opening Night Gala of Never Let Me Go by Mark Romanek and starring well-known actresses like Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley, Charlotte Rampling, and Sally Hawkins which obviously make the film must be seen for me. Film has three screenings and all are fully booked. The other film I’m dying to see has four screenings and yes, all are fully booked so I should be glad for not going afterall. The ‘other’ film is The Kids Are All Right.

I’ve been checking the 200+ films in this fest since they were announced and most are known to the blog as this yearly festival is the unique opportunity that Londoners have to watch the best films from around the world. Nevertheless if you want to check the films in each of the nine (9) sections here are the links to each one.

Galas & Special Screenings
Film on the Square
New British Cinema
French Revolutions
Cinema Europa
World Cinema
Experimenta
Treasures from the Archives
Short Cuts & Animation

The fest in the past gave a limited number of awards but since 2009 a new annual standalone Awards ceremony was launched to reflect the work of imaginative and original filmmakers plus to reward distinctive and intriguing work. This year Awards ceremony will be on October 27.

For the Best Film Award these are the films that will compete for the Star of London trophy.

127 Hours, Danny Boyle
Another Year, Mmike Leigh
Archipelago, Joanna Hogg
Black Swan, Darren Aronofsky
How I Ended This Summer, Alexei Popogrebsky
The King’s Speech, Tom Hooper
Meek’s Cutoff, Kelly Reichardt
Never Let Me Go, Mark Romanek
The Sleeping Beauty, Catherine Breillat
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Of Gods and Men, Xavier Beauvois

To check films short list for the Sutherland Award go here, shortlist for Best British Newcomer go here and shortlist for Grierson Award go here.

Cheers!

58th San Sebastian International Film Festival Awards Winners

Today the fest will close and I’m sure later on there will be an award ceremony but the awards have been announced and here they are.

Official Selection

Golden Shell for Best Film: Neds, Peter Mullan, UK, France and Italy

Special Jury Prize: Elisa K, Judith Colell and Jordi Cadena, Spain

Silver Shell for Best Director: Raúl Ruiz for Misterios de Lisboa (Mysteries of Lisbon), Portugal

Silver Shell for Best Actress: Nora Navas for Pa Negre (Black Bread), Agustí Villaronga, Spain
Silver Shell for Best Actor: Connor McCarron for Neds, Peter Mullan, UK, France and Italy

Jury Prize for Best Cinematography: Jimmy Gimferrer for Aita, José María de Orbe, Spain

Jury Prize for Best Screenplayer: Bent Hamer for Hjem til jul (Home for Christmas), Bent Hamer, Norway, Sweden and Germany
Special Mention: A Jamaâ (The Mosque), Daoud Aoulad-Syad, Morocco and France for “the complexity achieved by a simple story”.

FIPRESCI Award: Genpin, Naomi Kawase, Japan
SIGNIS Award: 《老那》Addicted to Love, Liu Hao, China

Zabaltegi-New Directors

Kusta-New Directors Award: Los Colores de la Montaña (The Colours of the Mountain), Carlos César Arbeláez, Colombia and Panama
Special Mentions:
La Vida Util (A Useful Life), Federico Veiroj, Uruguay and Spain
Smukke Mennesker (Nothing's All Bad), Mikkel Munch-Fals, Denmark

Horizontes Latinos

Best Film: Abel, Diego Luna, Mexico
Special Mention: A Tiro de Piedra (A Stone Throw Away), Sebastián Hiriart, Mexico

Films in Progress
Industry Award: Entre la Noche y El Dia, Bernardo Arellano, Mexico
Casa de America Award: Asalto al Cine, Iria Gomez Concheiro, Mexico

Cinema in Motion Award: Sur La Planche, Leila Kilani, Morroco and France

Another Look Award: Cerro Bayo, Victoria Galardi, Argentina
Special Mention: Blog, Elena Trape, Spain

Solidarity Award: 《老那》Addicted to Love, Liu Hao, China
Special Mention: Bicicleta, Cullera, Poma (Bicycle, Spoon, Apple), Carles Bosch, Spain

Sebastiane 2010 Award: 80 Egunean, Jon Garaño and Jose Mari Goenaga, Spain (lesbian interest)

Euskaltel Youth Award: Abel, Diego Luna, Mexico

IX International Film Students Meetings Awards
Panavision Award: Los Minutos, Las Horas, Janaina Marques – Escuela Internacional de Cine y TV- Cuba
Second Prize: Mitten marjoja Poimitaan, Elina Talvensaari – Aalto University- Finland
Third Prize: Ambiente Familiar, Carlos Leiva – Pontificia Universidad Catolica- Chile

Audience Awards
Best Film: Barney’s Version, Richard J. Lewis, Canada and Italy
Best European Film: How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster, Norberto López Amado and Carlos Carcas, UK and Spain

To read about winners today is in the home page at the official site but later I assume will be in the awards and jury members tab. Also there are two videos with jurors reading the awards at the press conference. I imagine that later there will be a video with the closing ceremony. Festival home page is here and other awards are here.

So it’s over see you next year.

58th San Sebastian International Film Festival - Films in Progress 18 Award Winners

This year the section will present on September 21 and 22 seven (7) films from Latin American countries. As you remember this is an aid program that happens twice a year, once in San Sebastian and another at the Rencontres Cinémas d'Amérique Latine in Toulouse.

Here are the seven selected projects from 97 projects submitted from 19 countries.

*Asalto al Cine (The Cinema Hold-Up), Iría Gómez Concheiro, Mexico Winner of Casa de America Award

Distancia (Distance), Sergio Ramírez, Guatemala

*Entre la Noche y el Dia (Between Night and Day), Bernardo Arellano, Mexico Winner of Industry Award

Karen Llora en el Bus (Karen Cries on the Bus), Gabriel Rojas Vera. Colombia
Machete Language, Kyzza Terrazas, Mexico
Mitomana (Mythomaniac), José Luis Sepúlveda and Carolina Adriazola, Chile
Todos Tus Muertos (All Your Dead Ones), Carloss Moreno, Colombia

To check info about each project go here. To read the award announcement go here.

58th San Sebastian International Film Festival Opening Ceremony

Just finished watching the opening ceremony at the official site which I found more interesting than last year mainly because it was faster and had clips of ALL films in the different sections that comprise the fest.

Still, there were some awkward moments like presenters that didn’t say a word, like John Malkovich and too many languages without translation to a more common language than very hard Basque. The last comment is most important when I don’t speak nor understand Basque -even when my last name root comes exactly from that region- and wanted to understand what they were saying while the multiple clips were screened; but probably tonight will watch the ceremony again as TVE will broadcast surely with subtitles or dubbed. But then, this is exactly what I like from European festivals, the huge diversity of films, the colorful characters and the many languages in the screen and outside of movie theaters.

The most interesting part of the ceremony are obviously the movie clips and from watching I got interested in several films, so probably will check every day to see what the fest has and maybe will do a daily short coverage. Also the fest and/or opening ceremony theme was “opening doors” so there was a nice collage of films from all over with opening doors scenes plus the ceremony stage had doors that opened constantly.

The ceremony was opened with the FIPRESCI Grand Prix and Olivia Williams receiving the award in the name of Roman Polanski.

To watch the opening ceremony at the official site go here, go down to San Sebastian Festival TV, click the Ceremonies tab, select the Opening Ceremony video and a window will pop-up.

So the most famous Spanish and Spanish-speaking festival in the world has started and soon we will learn what this edition has in store for films in the different competitions.

Cheers!!!

To close here is Olivia Williams with the FIPRESCI Grand Prix.

67th Venice International Film Festival Awards Winners

In what I perceive as a very 'conventional' award ceremony the Jury honored some (exactly One) movie that definitively I don't agree even if have only seen the trailer but know quite well the director's style and filmography. Still it should not be a surprise as this is the fest that in a previous edition gave the Golden Lion to The Wrestler.

Here are the winners.

Main Competition

Golden Lion: Somewhere, Sofia Coppola, USA

Jury Special Award: Essential Killing, Jerzy Skolimowski, Poland, Norway, Hungary, and Ireland

Silver Lion for Best Director: Alex de la Iglesia for Balada Triste de Trompeta (A Sad Trumpet Balad), Spain and France

Copa Volpi for Best Actress: Ariane Labed in Attenberg, Athina Rachel Tsangari, Greece
Copa Volpi for Best Actor: Vincent Gallo in Essential Killing, Jerzy Skolimowski, Poland, Norway, Hungary, and Ireland
Marcello Mastroianni Award for Rising Star: Mila Kunis in Black Swan, Darren Aronofsky, USA

Osella for Best Screenplay: Balada Triste de Trompeta (A Sad Trumpet Balad), Alex de la Iglesia, Spain and France
Osella for Best Cinematography: Ovsyanki Овсянки (Silent Souls), Aleksei Fedorchenko, Russia

Special Lion for His Career: Monte Hellman

Luigi de Laurentiis Award for Best First Film: Cogunluk (Majority), Seren Yüce, Turkey

To read the awards announcement in Italian go here and in English here.

Collateral Awards

FIPRESCI Award Main Competition: Ovsyanki Овсянки (Silent Souls), Aleksei Fedorchenko, Russia
FIPRESCI Award Sidebar Sections: El Sicario Room 164 by Gianfranco Rosi, France and Italy (documentary from Orizzonti)

SIGNIS Award: Meek's Cutoff, Kelly Reichardt, USA
CICAE Award: La Belle Endormie, Catherine Breillat, France

There are many more collateral awards that you can check in Italian here and in English here.

Orizzonti

Gran Premio Orizzonti: El Verano de Goliat by Nicolás Pereda ,Mexico and Canada

Jury Award: The Forgotten Space by Noël Burch and Allan Sekula, Netherlands and Austria (documentary)

Medium-Length Film: Tse (Out) by Roee Rosen, Israel, 34'
Special Mention: Jean Gentil, Israel Cardenas and Amelia Laura Guzman, Dominican Republic

Short Film: Coming Attractions, Peter Tscherkassky, Austria
Short Film nominated for the European Film Awards: The External World, David Oreilly, Germany

To read announcement at the official site in Italian go here and in English go here.

So this is it for this year with a festival that I found to have too many Italian movies (more than half) but was very diverse with films for almost all viewers tastes. Some are sad as ended too soon, some are disappoint that couldn't watch but a few films, some were surprised to find that people in this fest actually are there to watch the movies, and some were counting the days to go to Toronto's fest that has more parties, more glamor and more show business... American style.

Me, I had a great time really learning and sharing about the films in this fest as is only when you do a daily coverage that you really learn much about each film. But I'm exhausted and won't be doing this again until next May with the mother of all festivals like I call Cannes.

Arrivederci, ci vediamo nel 2011.

Day 11 @ 67th Venice International Film Festival

Last day is main awards day but today the fest will screen one movie that I'm looking forward to watch Taymor's The Tempest that I hope has all her peculiar style as some of us already know the story.

Out of Competition
Closing Film: The Tempest by Julie Taymor, USA

As we all know before the screening of the closing film is the awards ceremony that I'm not sure if I'll be able to watch, but I can always follow it by twitter. The ceremony is at 7:00pm local time.

Orizzonti

Most of the films screened today come from this section that will have its award ceremony at 5:30pm.

So this is the shortest post for Venice daily coverage as all left to do is to wait for the main awards, but to close it here are some predictions for possible winners.

From news dispatches
-Venus Noire is a worthy contender
-Favorites are: China's The Ditch and Russia's Silent Soul (the last with stunning visuals)

If you consider eccentric [sic] Tarantino's tastes
-Chile's Post Mortem
-Japan's 13 Assasins

Italian press
-Chile's Post Mortem

American press
-Meek's Cutoff Golden Lion; Jury Prize: Silent Souls

Truth is like what happened in Cannes, there is not ONE movie that standouts as a clear winner, which makes the award ceremony more interesting. Still there is one award that I HOPE is a sure thing, the Best Actress HAS to be for Catherine Deneuve, as from trailer she's just delicious and outstanding; the only problem could be that the film is a very French comedy, so will see what happens.

So, from trailers my Lions go to these movies

Golden Lion: Silent Souls
Jury Prize: Post Mortem
Best Director: (impossible to say from trailers)
Best Actress: Catherine Deneuve
Best Actor: (have no idea, lol)

News

Haven't left Venice many directors, which we all know it could mean that will get an honor, so two are coming back: Sofia Coppola and Alex de la Iglesia; still there: Takashi Miike, Monte Hellman, Wang Bing, and Richard J Lewis.

Is the first time I hear about this award that has a great, yet funny, name: Mouse or should I say, Mice as there are two awards. (lol) Given by Italian online critics this year Golden Mouse for best film in competition goes to Russia's Silent Souls and the Silver Mouse for best film in the other sections to Canada's Incendies.

According to a dubious source "Lesbian acts are increasingly prevalent in cinema, seen here in Attenberg, Black Swan, La Solitudine and Happy Frew, and these days pass by almost without comment." Well, to me the source is not reliable but since I wish the comment to be true (hopefully) when I'm able to watch them will let you all know if was true or not.

It's over my next post shall be the awards.

Ci vediamo nel 2011!

4th Queer Lion Award Winner

No surprise that a gay interest film won the fourth Queer Lion, as the only lesbian interest film in the selection seems like a not so-positive portrait of lesbianism; but is a pleasant surprise to learn that the winner film is from Argentina. Winner comes from Orizzonti sidebar.

Queer Lion: En el Futuro (In The Future), Mauro Andrizzi, Argentina

Tonight -probably right now- many are celebrating at the party that followed the award ceremony. I really hope that next year the selection will be more balanced -interest wise. To read the announcement at the official site go here.

See you next year.

25 Settimana Internazionale della Critica Award Winner

Today the audience award "Region del Veneto per il cinema di qualità" for the best film in competition at the International Film Critics Week was announced and here it is.

Best Film: Svinalängorna (Beyond), Pernilla August, Sweden

Not that I needed this film to win the award as is must be seen for me. To read the announcement at the section official site go here. Another section closes and we'll learn the Orizzonti and Main Competition awards tomorrow.

7th Venice Days Award Winner

Not long ago the Europa Cinemas Label Award for Best European Film in Venice Days section was announced and here are the award and the mention

Best Film: Le Bruit des Glaçons (The Clink of Ice), Bertrand Blier, France

Jury statement: “This is an extremely witty film - a pitch black comedy about cancer and alcohol. Blier’s anarchic and politically incorrect take on this apparently taboo subject has the same energy and freedom of spirit shown in his earlier films like Les Valseuses. Brilliantly made and performed, the film never preaches and is sure to be enjoyed and spark debate around European arthouses.”

27 Times Cinema Mention

Best Film: Incendies, Denis Villeneuve, Canada and France
Statement: We love this film for its tackling of themes close to us as young adults. The characters found purpose through their investigation into their own distant cultural and family history through razor-sharp cinematography and its strong, surprising narrative structure.

The other two finalists were:
Cirkus Columbia (Circus Columbia), Danis Tanovic, Bosnia Herzegovina, France, UK, Slovenia, Serbia and Belgium
Life in the Time of Death, Andrea Caccia, Italy (Italian Portraits and Landscapes.

The 27 Times Cinema campus was composed by 27 young European film-goers and is a special project promoted by the Committee on Culture and Education of the European Parliament in partnership with Venice Days and with the collaboration of Europa Cinemas and Cineuropa.org. Cultural partner: Variety.

To read the official announcement go here.

So this is it for this year in this section that had films that didn't call my attention too much because of the stories filmmakers are telling. If they want to emulate Cannes Directors' Fortnight they will have to do much better, but they're still very young -only 7-years-old so time is absolutely on their side.

Cheers!!!

Day 10 @ 67th Venice International Film Festival

It's almost over but there are still many films today.

In Competition

Road To Nowhere, Monte Hellman, USA
Barney's Version, Richard J. Lewis, Canada and Italy
Drei (Three), Tom Tykwer, Germany (gay interest)

Out of Competition
L'Ultimo Gattopardo: Ritratto di Goffredo Lombardo, Giuseppe Tornatore (documentary)
Dai Nostri Inviati - La Rai Racconta La Mostra del Cinema 1954-1967 by Giuseppe Giannotti and Erico Salvatori, Italy
Dante Ferretti - Production Designer by Gianfranco Giagni, Italy (documentary)

After Dante Ferretti's film the Bianchi Award ceremony took place and this year's award went to (Oscar winner) Dante Ferreti. This award is given by the SNGCI (Sindicato Nazionale Giornalisti Cinematografici Italiani).

Orizzonti
News from Nowhere, Paul Morrissey, USA
The Forgotten Space by Noël Burch and Allan Sekula, Netherlands and Austria
Senritsu Meikyu 3D (The Shock Labyrinth: Extreme) by Takashi Shimizu, Japan
Bangdokpi (Anti Gas Skin) by Kim Gok and Kim Sun, South Korea
Many short and medium-length films
Retrospective
Fracchia, La Belva Umana by Neri Parenti, 1981
Botta e Risposta by Mario Soldati, 1950
L'Eroe Sono Io by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia, 1952

Venice Days
La Vida de los Peces (The Life of Fish), Matias Bize, Chile

Winner(s) has been announced but will do an independent post.

International Critics' Week
Closing Film: Limbunan (The Wife's Room), Gutierrez Mangansakan II, Philippines (out of competition)

News

Was waiting to post the Persol 3D award winner but hasn't been announced yet, so will be on tomorrow's post. Here it is, Persol 3D awards were given to Avatar by James Cameron and How to Train Your Dragon by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois.

A few minutes ago was announced the winner of La Navicella: The Ditch, Wang Bing, Hong Kong, France and Belgium. The award ceremony is tomorrow.

Nine minutes ago was announced the SIGNIS Award, that goes to: Meek's Cutoff, Kelly Reichardt, USA. Don't worry all major awards will go in one post but I'm having fun just learning the news.

The jury of 19 young viewers has declared Barney's Version by Richard J. Lewis the winner of the "Leoncino d'Oro Agiscuola per il Cinema" and Julian Schnabel's Miral winner of "31 Segnalazione Cinema for UNICEF".

If you believed that the fest has only major awards check my twitter with announcements of different (and until today, unknown) awards. Better stop or will never publish the post.

Today's Photo

My last photo had to be of Noomi Rapace and was so lucky to find this great photo of her while walking the "streets" -okay the very narrow sidewalks- of Venice.

Day 9 @ 67th Venice International Film Festival

Only two more days to go and the first award was handled today, so I'm starting by sharing the award winner in the Controcampo Italiano section.

Controcampo Italiano

Best Film: 20 Sigarette by Aureliano Amadei
Jury statement: “The density of this story follows the rhythm of a truth that, beyond all prejudices, becomes a personal tale which blends the elements from the practice of freedom with intelligence and hints of irony. Freedom from one’s own past to pursue a dream, freedom from own prejudices to meet people, freedom from own pain not to force the audience into predetermined views”.

Special Mention: Vinicio Marchioni in 20 Sigarette by Aureliano Amadei “for his performance which allows the audience to experience the emotional complexity of the story through a combination of instinct and technique”.

To check the official announcement go here.

Other Awards

Also today at the Lancia pavilion in Venice was the award ceremony of the Nasti d'Argento awards given by SNGCI (Sindicato Nazionale Giornalisti Cinematroafici Italiani) and this year the European Nastro d'Argento of the Year was given to Tilda Swinton. Also getting one Quentin Tarantino for Inglourious Basterds named Best Non-European Film of the Year.

Let's check what the official schedule has for today.

In Competition

La Solitudine dei Numeri Primi (The Solitude of Prime Numbers), Saverio Costanzo, Italy, Germany and France (gay interest)
Jusan-Nin No Shikaku (13 Assasins), Takashi Miike, Japan

Out of Competition
Notizie Degli Scavi, Emidio Greco, Italy
That Girl in Yellow Boots, Anurag Kashyap, India (maybe will watch)
Zebraman: Zebra City No Gyakushu (Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City), Takashi Miike, Japan

Controcampo Italiano (Last films before the award ceremony)
Il Primo Incarico by Giorgia Cecere
Linea Nigra by Anna Gigante (short film - out of competition)
Films after the award ceremony - all are out of competition
Flaiano: Il megio e Passato by Giancarlo Rolandi and Steve DellaCasa
Fughe e Approdi by Giovanna Taviani

Today the first section of the fest closes with the screening of the Controcampo Italiano winner film that we know is 20 Sigarette by Aureliano Amadei.

Orizzonti
Dharma Guns by F. J. Ossang, France and Portugal
Sheoeyin Kenna (We Were Communists) by Maher Abi Samra, Lebanon, France, and UAE
Zelal by Marianne Khoury by Mustapha Hasnaoui, Egypt, France, Morroco, and UAE
Many short and medium-length films

Retrospective
Il Mantenuto by Ugo Tognazzi, 1961
E Arrivato Il Cavaliere! by Stefano Vancina and Mario Monicelli, 1950 (with Silvana Pampanini!)

Venice Days
Cogunluk (Majority), Seren Yüce, Turkey
La Vita al Tempo Della Morte (Life in the Time of Death) by Andrea Caccia, Italy (Italian Portraits and Landscapes section)

I've been forgetting to share with you that this section will screen the three Lux Prize nominees. The Lux Prize is awarded by the European Parliament and awards ceremony is at the end of November.

Akadimia Platonos (Plato's Academy), Filippos Tsitos, Greece and Germany, 2009
Die Fremde (When We Leave), Feo Aladag, Germany, 2010
Illegal, Olivier Masset-Depasse, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg, 2010

International Critics' Week
Martha, Marcelino Islas Hernandez, Mexico, 2010

With the above film the section finishes the screening of all films in competition; tomorrow will be the screening of the closing film that's out of competition. Believe the awards ceremony will be on the fest last day

Comments

Maybe you noticed that the fest is really fading away as awards started to be announced plus tomorrow there will be several award ceremonies. Still tomorrow there are many films that will be screened but most are out of competition.

News

Today media attention turns to Toronto International Film Festival as today is the opening ceremony, articles started to appear since yesterday so is no surprise that there are not many news about La Mostra, obviously except in Italian press.

According to Time magazine reporters the most notable films from Venice are: Potiche, Detective Dee and the Mystery of Phantom Flame and 13 Assasins. I'm just already dying to watch Potiche and wonder if the Lion will go to Asia this year.

Today's Photo

As some of you probably guessed today's photo is Tilda Swinton at the Venus Noire premiere. Great Tilda Swinton was honored today with a Nastro d'Argento.

Day 8 @ 67th Venice International Film Festival

Another day in La Mostra with some interesting films.

In Competition

Attenberg, Athina Rachel Tsangari, Greece (If you watch the trailer you'll notice that has a "little" lesbian interest)
Vénus Noire (Black Venus), Abdellatif Kechiche, France (yes will watch)

Out of Competition
La Prima Volta a Venezia by Antonello Sarno, Italy (collage with eighty-eight memories and secrets about their first time at Venice fest with the likes of Clint Eastwood, Charlize Theron, and many more)
Sorelle Mai by Marco Bellocchio, Italy (could be interesting - filmed from 1999 to 2008 comprises 6 episodes of a single story)
The Town by Ben Affleck, USA (I like Affleck directing, not acting; but probably will watch maybe he can direct himself better)
All Inclusive (3D) by David Zamagni and Nadia Ranocchi, Italy and Austria (the story seems interesting but 3d?)
Zebraman by Takashi Miike, Japan, 2004

Controcampo Italiano
Tajabone by Salvatore Mereu

Orizzonti
A Espada e A Rosa by João Nicolau, Portugal and France
The Nine Muses by John A komfrah, UK and Ghana
Nainsukh by Amit Dutta, Switzerland and India
Many short and medium-length films

Retrospective
Eccezzziuna le... Veramente by Carlo Vanzina, 1982
Guardie e Ladri by Stefano Vanzina and Mario Monicelli, 1951

Venice Days
Et in Terra Pax (And Peace On Earth), Matteo Botrugno and Daniele Coluccini, Italy
Scena del Crimine by Walter Stokman, Netherlands (Italian Portraits and Landscapes section)

International Critics' Week
Hora Proelefsis (Mother Earth), Syllas Tzoumerkas, Greece, 2010

News

Yesteday Mani Ratman was honored with the Jaeger leCoultre - Glory to the Filmmaker Award, he received the award for the film Raavan. Unfortunately Aish wasn't there. Today finally got clear the reason why the film has two names. Raavanan is Tamil and Raavan is Hindi and as some us know, there were two versions one in Tamil and another in Hindi; so the longer name really belongs to Tollywood, while the second -the one I saw- to Bollywood.

Most news in any language are about Ben Affleck being there. At Radio Montecarlo there is an interview where he talks about his movie but also about his interest in politics, the title: Dopo Obama... Ben Affleck? (After Obama... Ben Affleck?)

Today's Photo

Very elegant Paz Vega at the red carpet of Vallanzasca -Gli Angeli Del Male premiere.

Day 6 and Day 7 @ 67th Venice International Film Festival

You can't miss a day in the fest as yesterday was the screening of the usual "film sorpresa" (surprise film) with a documentary by whom been called "master documentarian" Wang Bing. The film: The Ditch that seems will be hard to watch, but definitively will watch as I like the style. To read the press release go here.

As there are many films decided to separate the list by days for better reading.

Day 6

In Competition

Essential Killing, Jerzy Skolimowski, Poland, Norway, and Hungary
Meek's Cutoff, Kelly Reichardt, USA (Like Reichardt style-will watch)
The Ditch by Wang Bing, Hong Kong, France and Belgium (was this year's film "sorpresa")

Out of Competition
I'm Still Here by Casey Affleck, USA (yes the doc about Joaquin Phoenix)
Vallanzasca - Gli Angeli del Male, Michele Placido, Italy
Raavanan, Mani Ratman, India (yes is Raavan that I liked a lot)

Controcampo Italiano
Ma Che Storia by Gianfranco Pannone, Italy
Ward 54 by Monica Maggioni, Italy and USA (out of competition)
Sposero Nich Vendola by Andrea Costantino, Italy (short film - out of competition)

Orizzonti
Cara Cremada by Lluís Galter, Spain
Xifang Qu Ci Bu Yuan (Reconstructing Faith) by Huang Wenhai, China
Verano de Goliat by Nicolás Pereda, Mexico and Canada
Many Short Films

Special Events
Minnesota Clay by Sergio Corbucci, Italy, 1964

Retrospective
Il Domestico by Luigi Filippo d'Amico, Italy, 1974
Cassotto by Sergio Citti, Italy, 1977

Venice Days
Cirkus Columbia (Circus Columbia), Danis Tanovic, Bosnia Herzegovina, France, UK, Slovenia, Serbia and Belgium
Cielo Senza Terra (Heaven Without Earth), Giovanni Maderna and Sara Pozzoli, Italy

International Critics' Week
Svinalängorna (Beyond), Pernilla August, Sweden, 2010 (was the official date)

Day 7

In Competition

Promises Written in Water, Vincent Gallo, USA
Noi Credevamo, Mario Martone, Italy and France (with Toni Servillo!)
Balada Triste de Trompeta (A Sad Trumpet Balad), Alex de la Iglesia, Spain and France (seems surrealistic)

Out of Competition
Prezit Svuj Zivot (Surviving Life), Jan Svankmajer, Czech Republic and Slovakia

Controcampo Italiano
Into Paradiso by Paola Randi
Achille by Giorgia Farino, Italy (short film out of competition)

Orizzonti
Tsumetai Nettaigyo (Cold Fish) by Sion Sono, Japan
Per Questi Stretti Morire (Cartografia di Una Passione) by Giuseppe Gaudino and Isabella Sandri
Many short and medium-length films

Special Events
I Crudeli (Hellbenders) by Sergio Corbucci, Italy, 1967

Retrospective
Cinque Ore In Contanti by Mario Zampi, 1960
La Manina di Fatma - episode from Cuori Infranti by Vittorio Caprioli, 1963
L'Onorata Societa by Riccardo Pazzaglia, Italy, 1961 (oh! Domenico Modugno! and Vittorio De Sica)

Venice Days
Notre Etrangere (The Place In Between), Sarah Bouyain, Burkina Faso and France

International Critics' Week
Oča (Father), Vlado Škafar, Slovenia, 2010

News
A few days ago I was able to watch the AMAZING trailer of Aleksei Fedorchenko's Ovsyanki Овсянки (Silent Souls) and even if is just a trailer (more than a trailer seems like the film beginning) I was absolutely captivated by the visuals, immediately became Must Be Seen for me. Today I'm reading that the film got a 12-minute standing ovation from the audience plus first critics' reviews headlines are very positive (don't want to read much). In my book the film has become a major contender for the top award. Check the trailer at the trailers blog, okay I make it easy for you and go here.

Also today I found a lot of interesting news but only one was about Venice fest, an interview with Noomi Rapace that if you like her I strongly suggest to watch the video. Check facebook wall to check the video plus other news about Telluride, one film I have to watch: The Illusionist, one film I will NOT watch, and more.

Interviews

Perhaps some of you will be interested in watching Pablo Larrain's interview at arte.tv, if you do go here (available only in French or German - but film images are in Spanish with English subtitles)

I still go 'gaga' for Catherine Deneuve and obviously I'm watching/reading everything about Potiche, but arte.tv has a Petite etude comparative entre l'interpretation de l'une et celle de autre. Deux reines, deux epoques (a small comparative interpretation study with two interpretations - one from the film the other from the famous stage play) that I strongly suggest to watch here.

Today's Photo

A very nice photo of Michelle Williams at the premiere of Reichardt's Meek's Cutoff. Remember to click the photo so you can appreciate it more.

Day 5 @ 67th Venice International Film Festival

As today I have more time than in previous days I got totally lost in the news about the fest, that's why the post arrives late. Today in competition three movies that will watch plus a very strange documentary by Gianfranco Rosi that called my atention and a few minutes ago started to read about the screening of another film Beyond by Pernilla August that absolutely is must be seen for me, not only because Pernilla has been called "bergmaniana" but because Noomi Rapace is the star.

In Competition

Meek's Cutoff, Kelly Reichardt, USA (I'm curious about this film, with Michelle Williams)
Di Renjie Zhi tongtian Diguo (Detective Dee and the Mystery of Phantom Flame), Hark Tsui, China (with Tony Leung Ka Fai, maybe will not like the story but I like the actor)
Post Mortem, Pablo Larraín, Chile, Mexico and Germany (probably will be as hard as Tony Manero but I'll watch)

Out of Competition
1960 by Gabriele Salvatores, Italy
Niente Paura - Come Siamo Come Eravamo e le Canzoni di Luciano Ligabue by Piergiorgio Gay, Italy (documentary)

Controcampo Italiano
20 Sigarette by Aureliano Amadei
Il Loro Natale by Gaetano Di Vaio (documentary)
Come Un Soffio by Michela Cescon (short film with Valeria Golino - out of competition)

Orizzonti
Cara Cremada by Lluis Galter, Spain
En El Futuro by Mauro Andrizzi, Argentina
El Sicario Room 164 by Gianfranco Rosi, France and Italy (a documentary about ex-commander of the state police in Chihuahua that became a very successful hit man... hmm)
Many Short Films

Retrospective
Vacanze di Natale by Carlo Vanzina, 1983
Le Pillole di Ercole by Luciano Salce, 1960 (think have seen it... have I? with Vittorio De Sica, Sylvia Koscina)
Fiebre da Cavallo by Stefano Vanzina, 1976 (oh! Catherine Spaak!)

Venice Days
Pequeñas Voces (Little Voices), Jairo Eduardo Carrillo and Oscar Andrade, Colombia (animation)

International Critic's Week
Hai Paura del Buio, Massimo Coppola, Italia, 2010 (story could be very interesting)
According to Italian Press (and Twitter) today is the world premiere of Svinalängorna (Beyond), Pernilla August, Sweden, 2010, which is must be seen for me. Viewers comments are talking about how good Noomi Rapace is and I definitively agree.

Interesting News

The Orizzonti section this year is presented in what I call a very not-organized way at the official site but if the presentation is hard to browse, the selection is also hard to watch because of its diversity. So organizers decided to create "Route Maps" to navigate the section. Nevertheless, the thematic route maps become a very interesting classificatory exercise just by the description and films included in each map.

Here are the Ten Possible Route Maps for Orizzonti.

Route Map #1 - The written word: relationship between image and text (narrating voice)
Route Map #2 - Life as a screenplay: the opposite of managerial storytelling
Route Map #3 - The image disturbs reality: Contemporary film animates reality, transfigures it, eludes it, urges it towards unexplored dimensions
Route Map #4 - The animals are watching us: the animal world can be a metaphor for the world of humans
Route Map #5 - Did you say documentary? documentaries have reclaimed the freedom once possessed in the early days of film
Route Map #6 - Documented horror: documentary material, and indeed the very experience of the documentary, may be confused with fictional images. This happens in so-called genre films. In these cases, film incorporates invisible forces: terror, the sacred, the premonition of catastrophes and the memory of those that have already taken place. Without ever betraying reality, the film stages what a screenplay cannot represent. Therefore the documentary becomes a film “genre” of the everyday.
Route Map #7 - So many stories from History: films that have found their starting point in the past, be in recent or distant
Route Map #8 - The geography of dreams: measuring the world, measuring time: film, the contemporary art of the fairytale and the story, the geographical art, ignores chronology or uses it to the benefit of the story.
Route Map #9 - Crisis (in the images, too): inducing artists to conceive for us (us spectators) new ways of understanding, new systems for reacting, new approaches to what might seem illegible to us. Film as a sensitive alphabet, as “gai savoir”.
Route Map #10 - Animation: a genre that percolates the widest variety of approaches, the film d’essai, the experimental film, the documentary, computer graphics, the video-clip.

To read complete Route Maps description plus find the films included in each route map go here.

Serious News

On Tuesday September 7th there will be an International Panel dedicated to Sergio Corbucci, a tribute to a master of Spaghetti Western films. On a lighter note, even if Tarrantino love him, don't think will have time to attend the panel. Read the press release here.

Not Serious News

Gosh, this is unbelievable but UK (and Italian) press are spreading the (very old) news that Sofia Coppola WAS Tarrantino's grilfriend! Yes, they're questioning his impartiality when in La Mostra Tarrantino has so many "conflicts-of-interest".

There was a party organized by Louis Vuitton at Palais Polignac honoring Sofia Coppola and if I don't do my daily visit to Le Monde this party -as well as many others- will go into total oblivion.

Today's Photo

Since yesterday have ready this very nice photo with always beautiful Catherine Deneuve. By the way, isn't amazing that Forbes (yes the business magazine) has an article about Potiche? (!) Strange.

Day 4 @ 67th Venice International Film Festival

Today a film that thanks to trailer now I'm really looking forward to watch Ozon's Potiche with a Catherine Deneuve in a role and performance that has to be just delicious1

In Competition

Ovsyanki Овсянки (Silent Souls), Aleksei Fedorchenko, Russia
Potiche, Francois Ozon, France ("dying" to watch what seems a fantastic Deneuve role and performance)
La Passione, Carlo Mazzacurati, Italy

Out of Competition
Tungngaan 3D (The Child's Eye 3D), Oxide Pang and Danny Pang, China and Hong Kong (I'm starting to get really curious about watching an Asian 3D production)
A Letter to Elia by Martin Scorsese and Kent Jones, USA (documentary - out of competition - yes it's Elia Kazan)

Controcampo Italiano
A Woman by Giada Colagrande, Italy (After Antichrist I'm becoming interested in William Dafoe 'tormented' performaces, seems here we have another)
Tarda Estate by Marco De Angelis and Antonio Di Trapani, Italy (out of competition) (hmm... not listed in the program but seems puzzling)
Bassa Marea by Roberto de Paolis (short film)

Orizzonti
Jean Gentil by Israel Cárdenas, Laura Amelia Guzman, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Germany
Fading by Olivier Zabat, France
Robinson in Ruins by Patrick Keiller, UK (documentary -narrated by Vanessa Redgrave)
Many short films

Retrospective
Gli Allegri Masnadieri by Marco Elter, Italy, 1937
Tempo Massimo by Mario Mattoli, Italy, 1934 (not sure if I saw it, with Anna Magnani, Vittorio De Sica)

Venice Days
Noir Océan (Ocean Black), Marion Hänsel, Belgium, France and Germany

International Critic's Week
Hitparzut X (Naomi), Eitan Zur, Israel and France

Comments

There is something I'm really missing in the coverage of this fest by fest organizers, fast upload of press conferences, photo calls and press material in general, like happened in Cannes. Only in Arte.tv been able to find videos with excerpts of press conferences.

Most press coverage in Italian is about Italian movies, in English about English speaking movies and in French... not much about Potiche! Lol! Press conference already happened but no videos yet, premiere will be in a few hours.

Not Serious News

Yesterday there was a huge storm that according to a Venetian security guard was "biblical". Here are two reactions.

-In the grounds of the exclusive Excelsior Hotel, artist-director Julian Schnabel was doing a 'round-table' interview for a group of international journalists in the corner of a marquee that had been erected especially for the Film Festival. As the storm grew in intensity, rain began lashing the marquee and lightning flashes became evident, it was clear that the assembled group could be in danger from the metal framework of the marquee. They needed to move. Undaunted, Schnabel walked to the centre of the marquee, where a bar happened to be located, leaned against it and carried on fielding questions.

Not ending in a bar and not so dramatic: Director Sofia Coppola, with a group of actors and producers from her new film Somewhere, was due to give a major press conference inside the Casino. An outside photo-shoot of her party which was to precede it had to be moved inside.

Today's Photo

I'm impress, Elle Fanning looks like a taller version of her sister and is only twelve. Elle walking the red carpet at Sofia Coppola's Somewhere premiere.

Day 3 @ 67th Venice International Film Festival

Another day with some very interesting Italian films and THE movie inspired by Dante's The Divine Comedy.

In Competition
Happy Few by Antony Cordier (will watch, opens on September 15)
Somewhere by Sofia Coppola

Out of Competition
Gorbaciof by Stefano Incerti, Italy (starring Toni Servillo)
Jianyu (Reign of Assassins)by John Woo and Su Chao Pin
La Commedia by Amos Poe (know will watch it as is cinema verite done with 6000 animated still images - inspired by Dante's The Divine Comedy, the film is divide in three cinematic sequences with 100 minutes, like Dant'es 100 canti... yes, definitively must be watch for me)

Controcampo Italiano
Niente Orchidee by Simone Godano and Leonardo Godano, Italy (short film -out of competition)
Opening Film: II Baci Mai Dati by Roberta Torre (puzzling story that recalls Italian cinema from another era... will watch)

Orizzonti
Malavoglia by Pasquale Scimeca, Italy
Better Life by Isaac Julien, UK and China
El Pozo by Guillermo Arriaga, Mexico (short film)
Seven (7) short films program with shorts from UK, Japan, Italy, Greece, France, Germany, and USA
Three (2) medium-length films from Austria and UK/Italy

Retrospective
Il Ragazzo di Campagna by Franco Castellano and Pipolo, 1984
6X8/48 (Tutta la Citta Canta) by Ricardo Freda,
Io Non Spezzo ... Rompo by Bruno Corbucci, 1971

Venice Days
Incendies, Denis Villeneuve, Canada and France
Il Sangue Verde (Green Blood) by Andrea Segre, Italy
Lisetta, Carmi. Un'anima in Cammino by Daniele Segre, Italy

International Critic's Week
Angèle et Tony, Alix Delaporte, France,

News

Tonight the first awards ceremony presenting the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement to John Woo.

Next Sunday at the Lido in Venice will be the ceremony awards of the VIII Premio Kineo - Diamanti al Cinema Italiano. Best Film: Baaria, Giuseppe Tornatore; Best Director: Gabriele Salvatores for Happy Family. Check all winners here.

Hopefully today is my last day unpacking so I can go back to do more news about the fest.

Today's Photo

Margareth Madè from Baaria's fame red carpet walk.

37th Telluride Film Festival - Update

If you want to learn some of the films that will be screened at the fest check this LATimes article.

The full list as well as all activities are posted at the official site here.

--end of Update--

One of the most prestigious -and very selective- American festivals will take place from September 3 to 6 in Telluride, Colorado. As always the program "It's a secret" and as those lucky enough to assist, we will learn the films screened this year when fest goers reach the mountains. But you can always check last year's program to get an idea of the kind of films and events they have, go here.

To my surprise this year they have a poster, seems that they are progressing marketing wise, so enjoy! Will check the site after the fest, but think that have an idea which films they'll screen this year.

Day 2 @ 67th Venice International Film Festival

The first full day at Venice has the premiere of my most awaited film in La Mostra plus one French film that's must be seen for me. Also very puzzling Italian films that hope eventually could watch.

In Competition

Miral by Julian Schnabel (yes this is the one and from headlines I'm preparing lots of tissues as seems could be a tear-full film about a woman played by none other than excellent Hiam Abbass - ah! will be counting the days).
Noruwei No Mori ノルウェイの森 (Norwegian Wood) by Anh Hung Tran (could be visually outstanding)
La Pecora Nera, Ascanio Celestini, Italy

Out of Competition
Wanda by Barbara Loden
The Last Movie by Dennis Hopper, 1971
Yongxin Tiao (Showtime) Stanley Kwan, China (with Tony Leung Ka Fai plus story seems interesting)

Controcampo Italiano
Se Hai Una Montagna di Neve, Tienila All'Ombra by Elisabeetta Sgarbi (Out of Competiton)

Orizzonti
Opening Film: La Belle Endormie, Catherine Breillat, France (yes, must be seen for me)
Guest by Jose Luis Guerin, Spain (documentary by extraordinary En la Ciudad de Sylvia and Unas Fotos de la Ciudad de Sylvia filmmaker - have to watch this doc)
Non si Puo Nulla Contro il Vento by Flatfom, Italy (short film)
Nok Ka Mhin (Four Seasons) by Chaisiri Jiwarangsan, Thailand (short film)

Retrospective
Il commissario Lo Gatto by Dino Risi, 1986
La Lepre e la Tartaruga, by Alessandro Blasetti, 1962 (episode from Le Quattro Verita) - (with Monica Vitti, Sylvia Koscina and Rossano Brazzi - wow! - think haven't seen this one...)
Non ti Pago! by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia, 1942
Un Giorno in Pretura by Stefano Vanzina, 1954 (episode)
Lo Scatenato by Franco Indovina, 1967 (with Vittorio Gassman)

Venice Days
L'Amore Buio (Dark Love) Antonio Capuano, Italy (with Valeria Golino)

International Critic's Week
Opening Film: Notte Italiana, Carlo Mazzacurati, Italia, 1987

There are some movie reprises that I'm not listing as some of you may remember that the daily list tells about the movies screened but most important about my impressions about each film as well as indentifies those that are must be seen for me.

News

Unfortunately today won't be able to spread the news because have to continue unpacking; but when I get tired maybe I'll share some news with you all. Check facebook and/or twitter for some 'interesting' news I have already published.

Thanks for visiting and hope tomorrow I could be back to more normal posting.

Today's Photo

Fabulous photo from Guardian UK showing a great couple of contemporary filmmakers. Nah! I just like the photo better than all those that populate the net.