13/04/2006

For the third year in a row, during the Venice Film Festival, the Giornate degli Autori – Venice Days will be held on the Lido. The independent section is organised by ANAC (Association of Italian Filmmakers) and API (Independent Directors and Producers), alongside the Venice Film, and this third edition is directed by Fabio Ferzetti.

Venice Days will be held from August 31-September 9, 2006, and will offer a selection of premieres from throughout the world. Several titles from the preceding editions picked up prestigious international awards and recognition: from the Jury Prize at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival for 13 (Tzàmeti) [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Fanny Saadi
interview: Gela Babluani
film profile] by Gela Babluani (Luigi de Laurentiis Award winner at Venice ) to Darwin’s Nightmare by Hubert Sauper, winner of the 2004 Venice Days, a nominee for the 2006 Best Documentary Oscar, and winner of the 2006 César Award for Best Debut Film.

The European films selected will compete for the Europa Cinemas Label , for the promotion of cinema in Europe, established by the European network of quality exhibitors, with backing from MEDIA Programme-MEDIA Plus. The award, founded in 2003, consists of financial support for a film’s distribution and lasting theatrical run. The debut films chosen will also vie for the Luigi De Laurentiis Award, alongside the first films from the festival’s other sections.

The films submitted for the selection must arrive by and no later than July 7, 2006 and must be international “premieres” in all other countries but their own. (More for information: www.venice.days.com).

Created in the same spirit as the Director’s Fortnight at Cannes, Venice Days will once again be present at Cannes, at the Noga Hilton Hotel from May 17-28, in the new space at the Salon Lérina.

(Translated from Italian)