Venice is preparing for the start of its 57th International Film Festival on Wednesday August 30th, with Clint Eastwood’s latest movie Space Cowboys.
The Festival, which will extend to September 9, will include more than 150 competing films, 21 of them aiming at the Black Lion’s Award.
Europe has dibs on 12 of the 21 movies nominated for the prestigious award, Asia claims 6 and Hollywood has the opening movie.
According to AFP, actress Sharon Stone will present actor/director Clint Eastwood with an honorary award for his many years of contribution to the art.
This year’s festival differs in that it boasts Iranian director Samira Mukhmalbaf and French/Algerian writer Taher Bin Jloun as members in its judicial committee.
Following is the list of members in the Venice Film Festival’s judicial committee for the year 2000, as cited by AFP:
Milosh Forman- Director-Head of the Committee (American)
Taher Bin Jloun- Writer (French/Algerian)
Joseby Bertelluci- Director (Italian)
Claude Shabrul- Director (French)
Jennifer Jason Leigh- Actress (American)
Andreas Kilb- Critic (German)
Samira Mukhmalbaf- Director (Iranian)
The committee will be in charge of awarding the following prizes.
-The Golden Lion for best film
-The Original Judicial Committee Award
-The Original Director’s Award
-The Folbi Cup for best actor
-The Folbi Cup for best actress
-The Marticello Masrioni Award for Best Promising Actor or Actress.
-The Golden Medal for Judicial excellence
Meanwhile, another judicial committee, headed by Canadian director Atom Aigwan, will vote for the ‘Louiji De Lorntese Venetian Award for First Works’ with a monetary value of $100,000.
The award is equivalent in stature to the Golden Camera Award of the Cannes Film Festival.
Following are the movies nominated by the 57th Venice Film Festival for the Golden Lion Award:
-Doctor T and the Women, by Robert Altman representing the US.
-Freedom, by Sharonas Bartas representing France, Portugal and Lithuania.
-Solon Matieu by Kazafei Bufois, representing France.
-Liolyan Dau Dau by Frut Chang, representing Hong Kong and France.
-Ail Bartijiano Jhonny by Ghido Chiza, representing Italy.
-Otara by Bodhadip Dasgupta, representing India.
-Liam by Steven Friar, representing Britain.
-Ai Santo Bossi by Marko Jordana, representing Italy.
-Sioum by Kai Duk Dim, representing South Korea.
-The Goddess Of by Clara Lou, representing Australia.
-Daira by Ja’afar Banahi, representing Iran.
-The Man Who Cried by Sally Potter, representing Britain and France.
-O Fantasma by Haw Pedro Rodriges, representing Portugal.
-Fis Do Do Mir ou La Comedie D’innocence by Raoul Roise, representing France.
-Dante by Gabrielle Salvatore, representing Italy.
-Before Night Falls by Julian Chnabel, representing the US.
-La Vierge D’es Assasine by Barbai Shroeder, representing France and Colombia.
-Platform by Gia Zang Ki, representing China and Japan.
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
