The Settimana Internazionale della Critica (SIC), the autonomous and parallel section organised by the Sindacato Nazionale Critici Cinematografici Italiani (SNCCI) as part of the 81. Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia (28 August – 07 September 2024), today, Friday 6 September, awarded the 39th edition’s prizes.
The international jury composed of Kerem Ayan, Yasmine Benkiran and Ariane Labed awarded the IWONDERFULL Grand Prize to ‘DON’T CRY, BUTTERFLY’ by Dương Diệu Linh. This is the motivation: ‘For its singularity and creativity because it experiments with new ideas, mixing comedy, social drama and fantasy, for the way it depicts the complexity of the mother-daughter relationship.’
The same jury awarded a special mention to Alexandra Simpson’s’ NO SLEEP TILL ‘, with the motivation:’ For the contemporary nature of the theme and the beautiful cinematography, for the tender look at its beautiful characters, for its powerful melancholic and vibrant atmosphere.”
‘PAUL & PAULETTE TAKE A BATH‘ by director Jethro Massey wins The Film Club Audience Award with an approval rating of 4.5/5.00.
The Luciano Sovena Award for Best Independent Production goes to ‘ANYWHERE ANYTIME’ by Milad Tangshir, with the following motivation: “In the panorama of Italian cinema today, Milad Tangshir’s film represents a virtuous example of the union between the urgency of telling a contemporary story and the need to use production resources without waste and with the ability to combine creativity, social message and production sustainability. Vivo Film and Young Film return an excellent result and a true example of production intelligence.”
‘HOMEGROWN’ by Michael Premo won the Mario Serandrei – Hotel Saturnia Prize for Best Technical Contribution, awarded by a special commission of experts composed of Paola Casella, Andrea Curcione, Marco Romagna, with the motivation: “For the courageous mimetic ability to insinuate itself to the most invading heart of the democratic abyss without ever losing the right distance from which to look at the disturbing precipitation of events, through a direction that works on ethics and the very sense of documentary cinema as a fundamental means of attempting to understand and never to judge. A film whose unquestionable political, anthropological and social importance is inextricably linked as much to the management, first and foremost human, of the complex phases of filming as to the rigour of a gaze that refuses any easy spectacularisation of the effects, choosing instead to analyse and investigate the causes.”
‘DON’T CRY, BUTTERFLY’ also won, finally, the Circolo del Cinema di Verona Prize as the most innovative film, awarded by the under-35 jury composed of Irene Benciolini, Giada Valery Garcia Cedano, Giulia Mancassola, Carolina Ramos, Federico Schinardi, with the motivation: ‘The film we decided to award revealed to us the complex struggle of the protagonists in maintaining an individuality threatened by the hidden demons of everyday female life.’
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As part of the ninth edition of SIC@SIC (Short Italian Cinema @ Settimana Internazionale della Critica), the jury, composed of three film industry professionals – Giulia Achilli, Simone Bozzelli and Elena Ciofalo – selected the following winners from the seven short films in competition:
Best Short Film Award ‘THINGS THAT MY BEST FRIEND LOST’ by Marta Innocenti with the motivation: ‘For the construction of empathy with strong characters entrusted to sound, in a rave told by someone who is not there but by someone who knows it extremely well.’
Best Director Award’ NERO ARGENTO’ by Francesco Manzato with the motivation: ‘For a work that leaves one deeply curious to see what will follow.’
Best Technical Contribution Award ‘AT LEAST I WILL BE 8 294 400 PIXEL’ by Marco Talarico with motivation ‘For the self-generated image that becomes an archive in the memory search.’
Finally, at the Settimana Internazionale della Critica, among the Festival’s collateral prizes, the FEDIC Short Film Jury, presided over by Carlo Griseri, awarded the Special Mention Best Short Film to ‘Playing God’ by Matteo Burani.
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“An idea of free cinema won. The extreme variety of the palmarès reflects not only the lively outlook of the juries but also the diversity of SIC’s programme, which once again this year put forward proposals that were fresh, innovative, dynamic, topical, and rooted in the present. It is also demonstrated by the constant presence in the auditorium of a young and very young audience, always curious and attentive, an encouraging sign for the future of festivals and cinema and an indication of the need to dare. A new cinema is still possible,’ commented General Delegate Beatrice Fiorentino on this edition.
“An edition, this 39th, enthusiastically welcomed by an audience of young people in particular and closely followed by the Italian and international media. I would like to thank the General Delegate, Beatrice Fiorentino, the selectors, and the entire SIC team for their great work. The success of the Casa della Critica was confirmed, which, for the third year running, represented an ideal place for cultural exchange between insiders. We are grateful to our partners who make all this possible,’ states Cristiana Paternò, President of the National Union of Italian Film Critics (SNCCI).
Today at 2 p.m., the screenings of the short film and the feature film winners of the Grand Prix International Film Critics’ Week will be held for all accredited participants.
