Cisterna Film Festival concluded its eighth edition with the announcement of the winners. This year was the return to Palazzo Caetani without Covid restrictions with the desire to project into the future through a selection and a jury made up of 50% women, yet with an eye to the past and its own tradition, returning to a streamlined three evenings of screenings.
The jury composed of Francesco Di Pierro (director of photography), Adriano Della Starza (teacher and youtuber), Cristina Borsatti (screenwriter and writer) and Karla Bacic-Jelincic (film promoter for the Croatian Audiovisual Center) elected the winner of the Jury Prize – Best Film – Warsha by Dania Bdeir. The short film captivated the four film industry professionals who were called this year to vote for those selected by artistic director Cristian Scardigno, “for the freedom with which it paints a social prison through striking language, capable of revealing the beauty of the arts and diversity”. Warsha tells of Mohammad, a crane operator in Beirut who one day offers to operate one of the tallest and most dangerous cranes in all of Lebanon. Far from prying eyes, he finally manages to express his secret passion and find his freedom. The director sent a heartfelt video message, as she was unable to attend because of commitments on the set of her first feature film. She also expressed thanks on behalf of the lead actor, Khansa, who received the Mobilitazioni Artistiche Award for Best Performer.
The Grand Jury Prize for- Best Director was won by Valerio Vestoso for the short film Le Buone Maniere, who also sent a thank you video message. Special mentions were also dedicated: to Sideral by Carlos Segundo; to the photography of Techno, Mama directed by Saulius Baradinskas and to the screenplay of La Banyera directed by Sergi Martì. La Banyera was also the short preferred by viewers, winning the Acqua & Sapone Audience Award.
This edition also saw cinema alongside other arts: from photography with the Persona exhibition by Emanuele Manco, author of this year’s cover photo, as well as book presentations. There was the presentation that took place in the late afternoon of Saturday 23 July in the presence of the coordinator of Emergency Marco Rossi for the book by Gino Strada – Una persona alla volta (Feltrinelli). Other presentations took place during the final evening, when the critic Emanuele Rauco talked about his latest work divided into two volumes by the titles Bigger boat – Il senso della meraviglia nel cinema di Steven Spielberg and Blinded by the light – La meraviglia del senso nei film di Steven Spielberg (Bakemono Lab). Cristina Borsatti spoke about her book Monica Vitti (Giunti Editore), recalling some moments of the creative process that led her to interview directors such as Mario Monicelli to capture the portrait of this unique actor.
The Cisterna Film Festival awaits you once again in 2023 for a new edition, organized as ever by Mobilitazioni Artistiche.