A Covid proof Festival

We movie lovers are used facing a gun in front of a screen. This time, however, it’s different, made of plastic with a white handle and a purple barrel. The welcome to Venice comes with a laser pointer on the forehead but there is no sniper nearby: it is the temperature check, first step to enter in the magic world of directors. We all experienced this situation during the last few months and many people (according the news) have already forgotten it. But here at the Lido reality bites. People can access the event area through nine road and lagoon check points with temperature detection systems. Access will be prohibited to those exceed 37.5 degrees. The “temperature snipers” are ready to target us (kindly) at the entrance of the Lido theaters not included in the exhibition area such as Palabiennale, Astra and the new outdoor arenas.

Forget last year’s Joker greasepaint mask, 2020 trend are surgical masks. They are mandatory in all outdoor areas, when standing in line, while accessing your seat in the theater and during the screening. Always. However, some people use that strip of fabric to send messages and some, with cinematic inspiration, wear Marvel hero or comic characters masks, perhaps aquatic. Because we could say, paraphrasing, «Venice wet, Venice lucky» but in addition to the rain of recent days (it should be over), the Spritz and the Prosecco bubbles, this year we talk about gel. Those who pass by cinemas, entrances, halls and meeting points can have an aperitif based on sanitizers. Just spot the red turrets that dot the city to find a bottle ready to dispense the magical elixir that kills viruses and bacteria.

Let’s go into the screening room but make the online reservation first. This is this year’s great news. To maintain social distancing and avoid crowds, both public and accredited attendees must book their seat on the Biennale website (www.labiennale.org). The ticket office for the audience too is just digital and that’s a good news: queues are avoided and we can choose where to sit. “Win-win”, as the Americans say.

Unfortunately the traditional opening gala dinner will not take place this year and the red carpet will be very intimate. Social distancing protocol concerns film delegations entering Sala Grande and photocall. Sadly the audience is not allowed to join the parade. It’s a pity, but as Freud used to say “Humanity has always traded a bit of happiness for a bit of safety”. We don’t have to deal with this trade, because in the Age of Covid confidence is the only good that allows us the joy to experience Venice Film Festival this year.

Alessio Lana

How to follow the Film Festival in streaming and on Tv

Social distancing becomes “approaching” Venice Film Festival. Accesses to the event are limited but there are many ways to follow it online and on Tv. The Biennale website and the official accounts on Twitter (@la_Biennale), Facebook (La Biennale di Venezia), Instagram (@labiennale) and YouTube (BiennaleChannel) will stream opening (tonight at 7pm) and closing (Saturday 12 September at 7pm) ceremonies, press conferences (every day from 11am), the two Golden Lions for Lifetime Achievement masterclasses (Tilda Swinton on September 3 at 3pm and Ann Hui on September 9 at 3pm) and red carpet (every day from 18).

Rai Movie (channel 24) is the official Venezia77 Tv channel. It offers highlights of the event, films related to the line up and its protagonists and the late night show “Venezia Daily” with the highlights of the day.

There’s also the virtual theatre “Sala Web” where it is possible to find a selection from Out of Competition, Orizzonti and Biennale College – Cinema sections proposed on streaming simultaneously with the official screenings at Lido.
Lastly the most “futuristic” part of the exhibition, Venice VR Expanded – the section dedicated to virtual realityaccessible entirely online via PC and compatible headset – and the more traditional one, with the 7pm opening ceremony broadcast live also in Italian theathers.

Alessio Lana

Bookciak, Action! At the Venice Days between cinema and literature

Pre-opening of the Venice Days with the 9th edition of the Bookciak, Action! Award. In the new location of Isola Edipo, the dialogue between cinema and literature was celebrated with bookciaks (shorts no longer than 3 minutes) based on books made by under-35 filmmakers. The jury is chaired this year by singer and songwriter Mannarino and composed by director Wilma Labate, producer and distributor Gianluca Arcopinto and journalist Teresa Marchesi. The jury crowned Marta Sappa and Marco Marasca for For All the Days of Our Life, from the autobiographical The Lives of Emma by Ave Govi (Memory Ciak); Miriam Frosoni’s Isola, from the novel Terrapiena by Carola Susani; Martina Girlanda’s Bly, from the graphic novel Nellie Bly by Luciana Cimino and Sergio Algozzino; Ginevra Bruscino and Lorenzo Fontana for Freestyle, from the short stories collection The Invisible Effects of Swimming by Alessandro Capponi. In the year of Covid there is also a special category, Fuori Sala, in response to the uncertainties of lockdown. The surreal encyclopedic voices by Chicca Gagliardo and the photos by Massimiliano Tappari, which make up the book The Eyes of Trees and the Vision of Clouds, inspired the winner The House of the Poet, created by the students of the Free Academy of Fine Arts in Brescia. Stopped Time is inspired by the same book and has been awarded in the Rebibbia category. The short film has been made by the inmates of Enzo Rossi Artistic High School, housed in the G. Stefanini correctional facility in Rome.

Emanuele Bucci

Bookciak, Action! At the Venice Days between cinema and literature

Pre-opening of the Venice Days with the 9th edition of the Bookciak, Action! Award. In the new location of Isola Edipo, the dialogue between cinema and literature was celebrated with bookciaks (shorts no longer than 3 minutes) based on books made by under-35 filmmakers. The jury is chaired this year by singer and songwriter Mannarino and composed by director Wilma Labate, producer and distributor Gianluca Arcopinto and journalist Teresa Marchesi. The jury crowned Marta Sappa and Marco Marasca for For All the Days of Our Life, from the autobiographical The Lives of Emma by Ave Govi (Memory Ciak); Miriam Frosoni’s Isola, from the novel Terrapiena by Carola Susani; Martina Girlanda’s Bly, from the graphic novel Nellie Bly by Luciana Cimino and Sergio Algozzino; Ginevra Bruscino and Lorenzo Fontana for Freestyle, from the short stories collection The Invisible Effects of Swimming by Alessandro Capponi. In the year of Covid there is also a special category, Fuori Sala, in response to the uncertainties of lockdown. The surreal encyclopedic voices by Chicca Gagliardo and the photos by Massimiliano Tappari, which make up the book The Eyes of Trees and the Vision of Clouds, inspired the winner The House of the Poet, created by the students of the Free Academy of Fine Arts in Brescia. Stopped Time is inspired by the same book and has been awarded in the Rebibbia category. The short film has been made by the inmates of Enzo Rossi Artistic High School, housed in the G. Stefanini correctional facility in Rome.
Emanuele Bucci