Once the curtain has fallen on the International New Cinema Exhibition, we take stock of this 60th edition of the festival which has recorded an excellent response from the public. The international jury prize was awarded to Slow Shift, by Shambhavi Kaul. Two special mentions were also awarded: the first to “La laguna del soldado” by Pablo Álvarez Mesa; the second to “Direct action” by Ben Russell and Guillaume Cailleau. Finally, the young jury awarded Xexams Heads by Chloë Delanghe and Mattijs Driesen. For the artistic director Pedro Armocida “a special festival has closed” and for the president of the New Cinema Foundation, Daniele Vimini “an edition that went well beyond all expectations”.
What does Pedro Armocida comment the next day?
“I was surprised not only by the public response but by the city’s welcome to our guests.”
Please explain better
“You see, the warmth of the public was not only present in the square but also in the other in-depth moments of the festival. If for Sergio Castellitto and for Ficarra and Picone – given their popularity – I expected it a little, for the others guests, I’m honest, less so. Instead, Jasmine Trinca; Valentina Lodovini; Francesco Pannofino, Franco Maresco (the latter protagonist of an unlikely virtual meeting with the public), received great affection from the city “.
Great public participation
“Yes, it was a festival felt by the public, the students, the passionate cinephiles and the numerous guests who attended, demonstrating that the passion for the cinema of the past, present and future is more alive than ever”.
Previews for the next edition?
“First of all, the dates: from 14 to 21 June. Then I believe that we will celebrate a great Italian director and indeed we will dedicate a space to Italian women filmmakers. Furthermore, we will calibrate the festival even more based on locations: the Sperimentale for experimental cinema, Piazza del Popolo in the happy way of meeting the public with the authors and/or actors; the beach for classic cinema on film. And we will also see the role of Palazzo Gradari and the Astra cinema in the future”.
Any other ideas?
“I would like to expand the festival even more to music. We did it again this year (the evening dedicated to Henry Mancini was magnificent), but I would like to make this music-cinema relationship structural, perhaps calling on an important singer-songwriter who in his career has crossed paths with world of cinema”.
