03/10/2022 - Andrea Pallaoro’s feature film bags the title of Best Film while Francesco Costabile’s Una femmina and Fulvio Risuleo’s Ghost Night also shine bright on the winners’ list

Opened by Emanuele Crialese’s Venice competitor L’immensità [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Emanuele Crialese
film profile] and distinguished by the 2022 Sergio Leone Prize awarded to Susanna Nicchiarelli (who closed the festival with Chiara [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Susanna Nicchiarelli
film profile]), the 40th edition of the Annecy Italian Film Festival which unspooled 26 September – 2 October has revealed its victors.

Dedicated to new talent, the competition section (assessed by a jury including director Laura Samani, producer Didar Domehri and film curator Nico Marzano) crowned Andrea Pallaoro’s Monica [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Andrea Pallaoro
film profile] Best Film. Discovered in competition at the recent Venice Film Festival, this American-Italian production is sold worldwide by The Exchange.

In terms of the Best Direction trophy, the jury singled out Ghost Night [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Fulvio Risuleo
film profile] by Fulvio Risuleo, which was also unveiled in Venice, within the Orizzonti Extra line-up. This feature film sold by Vision Distribution was similarly rewarded by the Youth Jury.

The award for Best Acting Performance went to Lina Siciliano for her role in Francesco Costabile’s Una femmina – The Code of Silence [+see also:
trailer
interview: Francesco Costabile
film profile]. This first feature film, which world premiered in the Berlinale’s Panorama section, also walked away with Annecy’s Audience Award. The movie’s sales are in the hands of Intramovies.

Last but not least, the Art Cinema Award, handed out by the International Confederation of Arthouse Cinemas (CICAE), was won by Giulia Louise Steigerwalt’s work Settembre [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (a first feature film discovered at Bari’s Bif&st and sold by RAI Com), whose actor Luigi Lo Cascio scooped the 40th Annecy Film Prize.

The list of winners is as follows:

Best Film
Monica [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Andrea Pallaoro
film profile] - Andrea Pallaoro (USA/Italy)

Best Direction
Ghost Night [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Fulvio Risuleo
film profile] - Fulvio Risuleo (Italy)

Best Acting Performance
Lina Siciliano - Una femmina – The Code of Silence [+see also:
trailer
interview: Francesco Costabile
film profile] (Italy)

Art Cinema Award – CICAE
Settembre [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Giulia Louise Steigerwalt (Italy)

The City of Annecy Audience Award
Una femmina – The Code of Silence - Francesco Costabile

Youth Jury Prize
Ghost Night - Fulvio Risuleo

(Translated from French)