30/06/2010

“Of all the festivals in the world”, François Truffaut used to say, “Giffoni is the most necessary”. So reminisces Claudio Gubitosi, founder and director of the Giffoni Film Festival (July 18-31), presenting the 40th edition of the top international film event for younger and youngest audiences.

Three thousand jurors (aged 3-23) from 43 countries will evaluate the films of the seven competitive sections, in order of target age: Elements +3 (for children aged 3-5), Elements +6, Elements +10, Generator +13, Generator +16, Troubled Gaze, as well as MyGiffoni (reserved for school productions).

As usual, plenty of stars will be attending Giffoni, such as Susan Sarandon, Samuel L. Jackson, Giovanna Mezzogiorno (the prize for best emerging actor or actress bears her father Vittorio’s name) and Michele Riondino and Isabella Ragonese of Ten Winters [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Michele Riondino - actor
interview: Valerio Mieli
film profile]. As well as plenty of other events, including masterclasses by directors Pupi Avati and Giuseppe Piccioni.

The main theme this year is declining love in all its forms. Which covers premieres (Disney’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Disney, animated film Despicable Me), important themes (such as the Resistance and Nazi occupation in Paris in The Round Up) and a significant number of titles from northern Europe (including Norwegian film Rafiki by Christian Lo and Danish film Karla and Jonas by Charlotte Sachs Bostrup), proof of a tradition deeply rooted in cinema for the youngest audiences and adolescents.

From Italy there were will many guests (some musical), several shorts (including Adriano Giannini’s Il gioco) and a programme of recent out-of-competition features, including two animated projects: the first 20 minutes of Winx Club 3D - Magica Avventura, and the special event Giovanni e Paolo e il mistero dei Pupi by Rosalba Vitellaro, a tribute to judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, killed by the Mafia in 1992.

(Translated from Italian)