Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
The program for the 72nd edition of the Venice Film Festival was announce recently, and it’s really the perfect combination of maestro, indie and everything in between.
The festival is known for its annual showcase of international artists and this year is no exception. And four Italian directors presenting their films in the main competition, there is a strong Italian presence. They are Marco Bellocchio with “Sangue del mio sangue,” Luca Guadagnino with his English-language film “A Bigger Splash,” Giuseppe Gaudino with “Per amor vostro” and Piero Messina with “L’attesa.”
Three Italian films will be in competition for Venice Days, an award that recognizes independent filmmakers. The titles include, “Arianna” by first-time director Carlo Lavagna, “Long Live the Bride” by Ascanio Celestini and “First Light” by Vincenzo Marra.
In the sections, “The Miu Miu Women’s Tales” series of shorts will showcase hot young Italian director Alice Rohrwacher’s “De Djess,” a surreal satire on the world of film, fashion and paparazzi will bring out all the festival’s glamor right on the Lido where it was shot.The program for the 30th edition of the International Critics’ Week, another independent section of the festival, will feature two Italian films; “Bagnoli Jungle” by Antonio Capuano and Adriano Valerio’s “Banat” (Il viaggio).
Italian filmmaker Saverio Costanzo and American director Jonathan Demme were chosen as the chairs of two of the juries at the festival: the Horizons section and the Lion of the Future/Laurentiis Prize for a First Film.
Saverio Costanzo wrote and directed the multi-award winning 2014 film, “Hungry Hearts.” His fourth feature film, it was presented in competition at last year’s Venice Film Festival, where it won both Volpi Cups: for Best Actress (Alba Rohrwacher) and Best Actor (Adam Driver). ”Hungry Hearts” also earned seven nominations for the David di Donatello Award.
The 72nd Venice International Film Festival will be held from Sept. 2-12. Check back here in the weeks leading up to September for more in-depth coverage of the selections.
