The 80th Venice International Film Festival, among the oldest and most prestigious in the world, kicks off this week, on August 30th. Akoroko won’t be physically present, but, thanks to the magic of technology, there will be coverage. Here’s what Akoroko is watching:
Alice Diop Takes the Chair
Acclaimed filmmaker Alice Diop will lead the jury for the Luigi De Laurentiis Award. Her film, SAINT OMER, not only debuted in Competition at Venice last year but also clinched the Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize.
Interestingly, the film also bagged the Luigi De Laurentiis Award for the best debut film. While it was France’s pick for the International Feature Oscar, it didn’t make the shortlist. If you haven’t caught it yet, SAINT OMER is currently streaming.
Final Cut in Venice: A Spotlight on Africa
The 80th Venice will feature the “Final Cut in Venice” segment, focusing on films from Africa and the Middle East. Projects of note include:
– ALLAH IS NOT OBLIGED (Fiction) by Zaven Najjar: An animated feature narrating the life of a ten-year-old Guinean orphan who becomes a child soldier.
– CARISSA (Fiction) by Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar: A tale of a young woman who discovers a mysterious machine that speaks an ancestral language.
– LIFE IS A RAILROAD (Fiction) by Kevin Mavakala, Manassé Kashala, Tousmy Kilo, and Isaac Sahani: Details remain under wraps for this project from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, and Germany.
– SUDAN, WHEN POEMS FALL APART (Documentary) by Hind Meddeb: A documentary capturing Sudan’s transition from a military dictatorship to a civilian government.
– ZION MUSIC (documentary) by Rama Thiaw: A deep dive into the history of reggae music across Africa.
Venice 2023 Feature Competition and Orizzonti Lineups
– IO CAPITANO by Matteo Garrone: A contemporary Odyssey following two young men from Dakar on their perilous journey to Europe.
– OURA EL JBEL (BEHIND THE MOUNTAINS) by Mohamed Ben Attia: After a jail term, Rafik plans to show his son a wondrous discovery behind the mountains of Tunisia.
Here’s an early look at IO CAPITANO (without English subtitles):
Book Adaptation Rights Market
Finally, the 8th edition of the Venice Production Bridge’s Book Adaptation Rights Market is set to run during the festival. This event aims to bridge the gap between literature and cinema, connecting publishers, authors, and literary agents with the film industry’s key players. We scrubbed this year’s catalog of selected titles for African stories that will be offered. The list is compiled at this link: https://akoroko.com/venice-film-festival-book-adaptation-rights-market-african-stories/
