Movie On 2022

Many times we tend to forget that festival awards are given by juries who (mostly) are not exposed to media during the fest duration and/or to audience reactions to films in competition. So, if you follow fest via social media there was not a consensus on what awards should go to which film, actors, directors or screenplayers. Still, there were strong buzz generated to certain actress who finally didn't got the Copa Volpi nor film got recognition from festival or Italian industry members, those who give the collateral awards. Sigh. Awards ceremony went smoothly directly to give awards, which is highly appreciated and yes, as they started to come I suspected that those leaders among the collateral awards were going to get top recognition. Last observation is true but also helped those that were called back to Venice and walked the red carpet (lol). To the point, awards ceremony was not boring which is a huge achievement. No doubt 2021 will be remembered as the year the three ma...

Update #1 : Finally yesterday AMPAS released the list of films eligible for consideration in the International Feature Film category and there are ninety-three countries that have submitted films. The Academy mentions there are some films which have not yet had their required qualifying release and must fulfill that requirement and comply with all the category’s other qualifying rules to advance in the voting process; so, there could be films that will not be considered for the shortlist of 15 that will be announced on December 21, 2021. Also according to The Academy rules " An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture (more than 40 minutes) produced outside the United States with a predominantly (more than 50%) non-English dialogue trac k". They also highlight the fact that Somalia is a first-time entrant. Nevertheless, main reason why I do this post is to have in one place mostly great movies from all over the world. Some I have seen alread...

As the official announcement reads: " The line-up of the tiles competing for the Queer Lion Award is possible thanks to the direct and precious collaboration of the different selection committees of the Venice International Film Festival. All films with a duration of 30 minutes or more, with relevant LGBT themes and characters, are eligible for the Queer Lion Award competition ." Therefore the Biennale Cinema of Venice officially recognizes Queer Lion as collateral award of the Venice International Film Festival, and actively cooperates every year, granting the organization of the award direct access to the structures and facilities of the Festival, as well as inserting the prize in its official list of collateral awards. For the 2021 line-up, special thanks go to Alberto Barbera, Angela Savoldi, Paolo Bertolin (for all the sections of the official program, and in particular Venezia 78, Fuori Concorso, Orizzonti, Biennale College); Michel Reilhac, Federico Anselmi, Liz ...

The 18th edition of Giornate degli Autori will unspool during the Venice Film Festival, from September 1st to the 11th, with a pre-opening event on August 31st, thanks to a collaboration with BookCiak, Azione!, SNGCI and Isola Edipo. This independent sidebar created by the Italian filmmakers' associations (ANAC and 100autori), under Giornate president Andrea Purgatori, will feature a competition lineup of 10 feature films and 6 special events selected by Artistic Director Gaia Furrer and screened in the Sala Perla at the Casinò of Venice, in an accord with the Venice Film Festival. It also offers a showcase of independent films made in Italy in the section Venetian Nights. Giornate is also returning to the center of Venice for a day-long event at the Teatro Goldoni, organized jointly with Isola Edipo and featuring the world premieres of three journeys into the Self (Fellini e l'ombra, by Catherine McGilvray), the Fairy Tale (I nostri fantasmi, by Alessandro Capitani), and Beari...

Another festival that pretends there is no pandemic and even claims will have less COVID19 rules and regulations than Cannes. Let's hope that all this joyful climate will not end in something we cinema fans will absolutedly hate as much as when a young director or actor dies. Sigh. Alberto Barbera said: " We aren't so confident anymore, even though we are bolstered by great faith in science and humankind's ability to react to even the worst adversities. Hence, our decision to hold the next Film Festival of the Biennale di Venezia in the presence of the public and with even greater conviction than during the preceding annus horribilis, formulating the 78th edition that comes just one year before we celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Festival's birth, when it was launched in August 1932 ." Perhaps most hopeful than what happened in the past is what's going to happen next year when the festival will reach an incredible milestone. But well, I do like to ...

La Settimana Internationale della Critica is an independent and parallel section organized by the National Union of Italian Film Critics (SNCCI) during the Venice International Film Festival. The program includes a selection of seven (7) debut films in competition and two (2) special events out of competition, all presented as world premieres. The selection was curated by the General Delegate of Venice Critics' Week Beatrice Florentino together with the members of the selection committee: Enrico Azzano, Paola Casella, Simone Emiliani and Roberto Manassero. There are several prizes for feature and short films in La Settimana but most important is the fact that the seven feature films also compete for Lion of the Future - Luigi De Laurentiis Venice Award for a debut film. The 2021 jury members for the main Competition are Claudio Cupellini, Vanja Kaludjercic and Sandrine Marques. Further more the films in competition are eligible for the following prizes: Verona Film Club Award, bes...

Without a doubt, this was one of the best award ceremonies I have seen ever as made me laugh loud with a river of tears coming out of my eyes, (LOL). So funny!!! Yes, Spike Lee announced the Palm d'or winner right away before any other major awards!!! Some how made me recall the infamous Oscar moment when Waren Beatty announced the wrong Best Picture; but, Cannes is France and gee, felt so funny instead of embarrasing. Even the mistress of ceremonies lost control afterwards making the show even more fun to watch. Wish awards ceremonies were more like this one that those boring shows reading one award after another. This year the festival was strange and many speculated since the very beginning that surely the awards were going to be "strange"; some even went to say that this year chaos will reign. Seems they were somehow right. Top winner is very controversial film already screening in Paris to controversial critics' reviews. But I'm glad that finally a ...