13/11/2006

Marcelo Piñeyro’s El Método (a Spanish/Italian/Argentinean co-production) has walked away with the top honours, the Premio Amore e Psiche 2006, at the 12th edition of the MedFilmfestival, which took place in Rome last week.

According to the international jury – presided over by Italian actress Lina Sastri and featuring Algerian director Rachid Benhadj, Albanian journalist Roland Sejko and Italian film critic Bruno Torri – the Argentinean director’s film skilfully captured this year’s festival theme, "Identity and Work,” starting from a “perfectly calibrated” screenplay.

Other films in selection included Douar de femmes by Algeria’s Mohammed Chouikh (Recognition of Artist Expression); Albanian filmmaker Dhimiter Anagnosti’s Gjoleka djali i abazit (Father and Godfather, Special Mention); and Bulgarian/Turkish title Stolen Eyes by Radoslav Spassov (Eurimages Italia Award). The Premio Italia nel Cinema 2006 went to Emanuele Crialese’s Golden Door [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Alexandre Mallet-Guy
interview: Charlotte Gainsbourg
interview: Emanuele Crialese
interview: Emanuele Crialese
interview: Fabrizio Mosca
film profile], Italy’s nomination for the shortlist for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.

The MedFilm Festival’s three cinemas were host to 225 films (45 features, the rest shorts and documentaries), divided among 11 sections, four of which were competitive. Seven prizes were awarded by four international juries, and there were 30 Italian premieres overall.

MedFilm 2006 continues from November 14-19 at the Museo di Roma in Trastevere, with its workshop sections (shorts and documentaries) and screenings for school groups.

(Translated from Italian)