6/1/2011 - 57th Taormina Film Fest
TRIUMPH OF THE GOLDEN TAURO As the Taormina Film Fest prepares to raise the curtain on its 57th edition in Sicily June 11 to 18, a line-up rich in films, directors and stars was unveiled at a press conference in Rome today. “In the five years that I have had the privilege to direct the festival,” commented Deborah Young, “I have seen the festival grow richer each year in terms of the quality of our films and special programs, world-wide media coverage, and the response of the international film community, who have put Taormina back on their calendars. “Major Hollywood studios, sales agents and producers now actively plan on film titles to propose for Taormina. The exceptional films we are showing this year reflect this new friendly attitude. “I’m proud to have seen our audience grow year by year, and to see young people and film lovers from around the world flooding the streets of Taormina. I am particularly proud of the dedication and determination with which my excellent staff has succeeded in organizing a festival of world quality. “After the festival’s great leap forward of the past two years, we can justifiably boast that the Golden Tauro, a symbol of Taormina’s indomitable spirit, has triumphed over all obstacles.” TAORMINA ARTE AWARD WINNERS 2011 The Taormina Arte Awards for 2011 have been assigned to three major figures on the international scene who will accept their prizes, designed by Gerardo Sacco, on stage at the Teatro Antico. · Monica Bellucci June 12· Oliver Stone June 13· Tarak Ben Ammar June 16 TAORMINA 2011 HIGHLIGHTS Palestinian director and actor Elia Suleiman will receive the Fondazione Roma Mediterraneo Award for Dialogue Between Cultures, presented by the Foundation’s president, Prof. Avv. Emmanuele F. M. Emanuele. Jeffrey Katzenberg will accept, on behalf of DreamWorks, The Hollywood Reporter Award for Cinematic Excellence to DreamWorks Animation. Both awards have been designed by Le Colonne of Taormina. THE MAGHREB GUEST OF HONOR Taormina is taking place in a moment of great tension for the Mediterranean. Since it assumed a Mediterranean identity in 2007, the festival has become a focal point for the film culture of the region. This year we have chosen to spotlight three North African countries -- Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco -- undergoing enormous social change, whose filmmakers have been at the center of dramatic political events. As our Guests of Honor, the North African countries have a special place reserved for them at the festival this year. Invited for the festival’s salute are Mohamad Diab, Habib Attia, Mourad Ben Cheikh, Leila Kilani, Soufia Issami, Ibrahim El Batout and Tarak Ben Ammar, who will present new films and participate in a round table called MAGHREB REVOLUTION on June 16. Once again, our guest programmer Mario Serenellini has prepared as astonishing selection of historical shorts from the section. North African Showcase 2011: · A Man’s Shadow di Tamer Mahdy – Egitto, 2011, 5’ - (International premiere)· Mohktar di Halima Quardiri - Marocco, 2011, 15’ - (International premiere)· L’Homme de Cendres (Man of Ashes) di Nouri Bouzid – Tunisia, 1986, 109’· Heaven’s Doors di Swel e Imad Nouri - Marocco, 2006, 160’· No More Fear di Mourad Ben Cheikh – Tunisia, 2011, 74’ - (Italian premiere) GRANDE CINEMA in the TEATRO ANTICO One of Hollywood’s most popular actors, Jack Black, will launch the festival on June 11 with an exhilarating 3D screening in the Teatro Antico of Kung Fu Panda 2. This major summer release from Paramount Pictures will be shown to an audience of more than 3,000 viewers wearing Dolby 3D glasses, in a unique event made possible with the support of Cinemeccanica Digital Division, exactly one year after the Teatro Antico became the first outdoor arena in the world to screen 3D. (The film happened to be the world première of Toy Story 3, which went on to become the highest-grossing animated film in history.) 3D’s joyful, creative quality -- at its best in the Paramount/DreamWorks KFP2 -- is revisited later in the week as a horror film, Parking Lot, which has the distinction of being the first commercial 3D film produced in Italy. Director Francesco Gasperoni and screenwriter/actress Harriet MacMasters-Green are also the authors of the short Tao 3D: A Sicilian Story, featuring the Taormina Film Fest and its audiences that will be shot during the festival, edited, mixed and screened on Thursday, June 16 – a tour de force not to be missed! Spectacle meets the spectacular on June 12. Iconic filmmaker Oliver Stone will be on hand for a once-in-a-lifetime screening of his great historical epic Alexander Revisited: The Final Unrated Cut in the place it seemed made for: Taormina’s 2,300-year-old Teatro Antico. One of our proudest finds is an exceptional HBO production from the award-winning directors of American Splendor, Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini. Cinema Veritè, starring Diane Lane, James Gandolfini and Tim Robbins is a fictionalized recreation of America’s first, controversial reality show that gave birth to reality TV. Music plays an important role in two Grande Cinema films this year. The highly original comedy Killing Bono is based on the true story of the band that broke away too soon from the U2s and lived to regret it. On hand June 17 to present the screening will be dynamic young British actor Robert Sheehan (The Misfits), who also appears in Dominic Sena’s spectacular Medieval tale Season of the Witch. Daniel Sanchez Arevalo directs Taormina’s comedy of the year, Primus (Cousinhood), with verve and charm. The festival closes with a very Sicilian night featuring the world première of Nello Correale’s engaging semi-documentary Rosa’s Voice, which tells the story of the legendary Sicilian folk singer Rosa Balistreri. Actress Donatella Finocchiaro and musicians Mario Incudine and Vincenzo Gangi will treat Teatro Antico audiences to some of Rosa’s haunting songs as the 57th festival draws to a close. The films of Grande Cinema in the Teatro Antico 2011: · Kung Fu Panda 2 (in 3D) directed by Jennifer Yuh , with the voices of Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie – USA 2011 – 90’ · Alexander Revisited: The Final Unrated Cut directed by Oliver Stone, with Colin Farrell, Angelina Jolie, Jared Leto – USA 2007 – (International Premiere) · Season of the Witch directed by Dominic Sena, with Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Stephen Campbell Moore – USA 2011 – 95’ (Italian Premiere) · Primos (Cousinhood) directed by Daniel Sanchez Arevalo, with Quim Gutiérrez, Inma Cuesta, Raul Arevalo – Spain 2011 - 98’ (International Premiere) · Cinéma Vérité directed by Shari Springer Berman e Robert Pulcini, with Diane Lane, Tim Robbins, Thomas Dekker, James Gandolfini – USA 2011 – (International Premiere) · Parking Lot 3D directed by Francesco Gasperoni, with Harriet McMasters Green – Italy 2011 – (Anteprima Mondiale) · Killing Bono directed by Nick Hamm with Ben Barnes, Robert Sheehan – U.K. 2011 – 114’ (International Premiere) · La Voce di Rosa (Rosa’s Voice) directed by Nello Correale, with Donatella Finocchiaro - Italy 2011 – 72’ (World Premiere) COMPETITION SECTIONS The selection of films in Taormina’s two exclusive competitions, Mediterranea and Beyond the Mediterranean, is the fruit of long, patient research by programmers Deborah Young, Luca Di Leonardo and consultant Cristina Piccino. These sections showcase innovative contemporary cinema, screening international or world premières wherever possible. MEDITERRANEA COMPETITION The international jury of the Mediterranea competition will confer the festival’s top prize, the Golden Tauro, for best film, along with awards for Best Director, Best Performance and a Special Jury Prize. Jury members of the 57th Taormina Film Fest are: · Patrice Leconte, director (France)· Yousra, actress (Egypt)· Maya Sansa, actress (Italy) The films of Mediterranea 2011: La Roim Alaich (Invisible) directed by Michal Aviad – Israel 2011 – 90’ (Italian première) Press directed by Sedat Yilmaz, Turkey 2011 – 100’ (International première ) Il console italiano (The Italian Consul) directed by Antonio Falduto, with Anna Galiena, Giovanna De Sio, Lira Molepo, Luca Lionello, Franco Trevisi – Italy 2011 – 90’ (World Première) Hawi directed by Ibrahim El Batout, with Mahmoud Abodama, Rina Aref, Hany El Dakak, Sherif El Desouky – Egypt 2010 – 112’ (Italian première) Sur la planche (On the Plank) directed by Leila Kitani, with Soufia Issami, Nouzha Akel, Mouna Bamad, Rafia Bouazza – Morocco 2011 – (Italian première) 678 directed by Mohamad Diab, with Boushra, Nelly Karim, Nahed el Sebai, Maged el Kedwany – Egypt 2010 – 100’ (Italian première) Le chat du Rabin (The Rabbi’s Cat) directed by Joann Sfar, Antonie Delesvaux, with the voices of Hafsia Herzi, Maurice Bénichou, Francois Morel - France 2011 – 90’ (International première) Mil Cretins (A Thousand Fools) directed by Ventura Pons, with Jordi Bosch, Joan Borràs, Aleix Albareda – Spain 2011 – 92’ (European première) Voir la Mer directed by Patrice Leconte, with Nicolas Giraud, Clément Sibony, Pauline Lefèvre – France 2011 – (Out of Competition - International première) BEYOND THE MEDITERRANEAN COMPETITION Although proud of its Mediterranean identity, Taormina has always kept its doors open to world cinema, which finds expression in the Beyond the Mediterranean competition. The jury is composed of a select group of film-lovers from the Taormina area, non-professionals who deliberate the AUDIENCE AWARD for Best Film. The films of Beyond the Mediterranean 2011: Sandheden om Maend (Truth About Men) directed by Nicolaj Arsel with Thure Lindhardt, Tuva Novotny – Denmark 2011 - 91’ (Italian première) Lotus Eaters directed by Alexandra McGuinness, with Antonia Campbell-Hughes – U.K./Ireland 2011 (European première) Alzheimer’s directed by Ahmad Reza, con Faramarz Gharibian, Mehdi Hashemi, Mohtab Karamati, Mehran Ahmadi – Iran 2011 – 103’ (International première) Black Butterflies directed by Paula van der Oest, with Rutger Hauer, Carice Van Houten, Liam Cunningham, Grant Swanby – South Africa 2011 – 99’ (European première) Red State directed by Kevin Smith, with Michael Parks, Melissa Leo, John Goodman - USA 2011 – 88’ (International première) Pais do Desejo (Land of Desire) directed by Paulo Caldas, with Fabio Assuncao, Maria Padilha – Brazil 2011 - (World première) N.I.C.E. SICILIAN SHORT FILM COMPETITION For the fourth consecutive year, the festival hosts an important short film competition for Sicilian directors in association with N.I.C.E. (New Italian Cinema Events) based in Florence. N.I.C.E., directed by Viviana Del Bianco and Grazia Santini, will take the winning film to Russia, Holland and the U.S., offering international visibility. The short film finalists are: “A Day and a Minute in Rome”, by Frank di Mauro (8’) “Angelo o la Pasqua di Salvo”, by Sebastiano Greco (15’) “Cattedrale”, by Leandro Picarella (13’13) “Moto Perpetuo”, by Gabriele Vizzini (6’09)“Vodka Tonic”, by Ivano Fachin (9’) “U Piscispada”, by Antonello Piccione (3’27)“White Light”, by Gianmaria Musarra (10’) Out of competition: “Non importa da dove vieni ma i colori che porti”, by Leandro Genovese (1’59) MASTER CLASSES In Taormina, Master Classes are a tradition. They take place every day in the Palazzo dei Congressi before eager audiences that include students, the press and the public. We are proud to announce: Monica Bellucci June 12 Oliver Stone June 13 Patrice Leconte June 15Maghreb Revolution June 16Andrzej Zulawski June 17Joann Sfar June 18CAMPUS TAORMINA CELEBRATES ITS 4th BIRTHDAY Campus Taormina turns four years old this year and is more popular than ever with film, communications and language students. They come to Taormina to take part in meetings with promising young talents of Italian cinema and personalities of great acclaim, who talk about their experiences in informal, interactive sessions. The success of Campus Taormina, sponsored by Minister Giorgia Meloni and the Ministero della Gioventù (Ministry of Youth) and enthusiastically organized by Fabio Longo, continues to infuse the festival with energy and vitality. A young jury of 40 students sponsored by the Ministero della Gioventù will follow all three of the festival’s competitions -- Mediterranea, Beyond the Mediterranean and Sicilian Short Films—alongside an international jury presided by master filmmaker Patrice Leconte. Campus 2011: Jack Black June 11Matthew Modine June 13Maya Sansa June 14 “3D all’italiana” – Francesco Gasperoni, Harriet MacMasters-Green June 14Sicilian Round Table June 16Prof. Emmanuele F.M. Emanuele and Vittorio Sgarbi June 17Valentina Lodovini June 18 Spazio Taormina Hosts the European Film Academy Spazio Taormina, the festival’s industry area, is delighted to welcome the European Film Academy, which will hold its annual board meeting in Taormina on June 18. The event is co-hosted by Adriana Chiesa Enterprises. Participants include some of Europe’s most important producers including Yves Marmion, Antonio Saura, Els Vandevorst, Antonio Perez Perez, Nik Powell, Cedomir Kolar, Despina Mouzaki, Stephan Hutter, as well as a committee of experts who will be in Taormina to help the board select the finalists and for this year’s European Film Awards. Filmmakers and EFA members Andrzej Zulawski and Goran Paskaljevic will contribute to the festival’s rich stock of Master Classes and workshops. Taormina Film Fest renews its important partnership with Festival Scope (www.festivalscope.com), an innovative digital platform which was launched in Taormina during last year’s festival. It affords new opportunities for distribution and promotion of festival films, by allowing selected professionals the world over to watch our films in streaming. WITHOUT WHOM THE FESTIVAL WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE: The Taormina Film Fest is organized by Taormina Arte – the president of Taormina Arte Mauro Passalacqua, the president of the Province of Messina Nanni Ricevuto, the mayor of Messina Giuseppe Buzzanca, Ninni Panzera and his dedicated staff. For their continued economic support, we warmly thank the Region of Sicily and its president Raffaele Lombardo, the Minister of Culture Diego Galan and Nicola Borrelli, head of the Department of Cinema and Minister Giorgia Meloni at the Ministero della Gioventù for her welcome support of Campus Taormina. Very special thanks are in order to Prof. Avv. Emmanuele F. M. Emanuele, the president of Fondazione Roma Mediterraneo, along with Prof. Guglielmo Giovanni de’ Centelles, for believing in the festival and its role in expressing Mediterranean culture, and for lending the Foundation’s prestigious name as our Main Sponsor. We greatly appreciate the support of all our private sponsors: Lancia, Gazprom Media, Barilla, Videobank, Fiuggi, Taormina’s splendid hotels which generously organized official festival events, and all the others who have helped see us through a difficult year. Of the media that has strongly promoted the festival, a tip of the hat to The Hollywood Reporter and Simona Ralli at Mediaset Premium. Taormina Film Fest and its director owe a debt of gratitude to a courageous staff that includes our head of communications Antonio Napolitano; Luca Di Leonardo in the programming office, assisted by consultant Cristina Piccino; Maya Breschi on the phone in International Relations; Chiara Nicoletti working overtime in a bewildering variety of roles; the nerves-of-steel Maria Teresa Frigo coordinating Hospitality with the help of Camilla Benvenuti; tireless Fabio Longo who coordinates Campus Taormina and the Campus Gioventù Award; fearless Max Mestroni heading Ceremonial with the aid of Ciro Cristaldi, Gianpiero Gobbi and Valeria Leone; and last but far from least, our precious consultant Silvia Bizio in Los Angeles. Taormina would not be the professional event it is without the director of our evening shows Mimma Nocelli and our two dashing presenters Luca Calvani and Sergio Muniz. Many, many thanks to Emma Perrelli, Tiziana Rocca, Michel Curatolo, Pino Chiodo, Mario Serenellini, Ilaria Marcellini, Sergio Rios and Valter. And to that astonishing film maker-inventor Francesco Gasperoni for the festival’s first 3D logo and our very own film. Taormina Film FestVia degli Zingari, 11 – 00184 Rome, ItalyTel.+39 06 486808 festival@taorminafilmfest.it Taormina ArtePress OfficeNicola FrancicaServizi Stampa Milena PriviteraTel. +39 0942 21142 m.privitera@taoarte.it National press office Maya Reggi +39 347 6879999 maya@reggiespizzichino.comRaffaella Spizzichino +39 338 8800199 raffaella@reggiespizzichino.com International press office Dan Fainaru press@taorminafilmfest.it Edna Fainaru Promoted by:Ministero Beni e Attività Culturali Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri-Dipartimento della GioventùAssessorato Turismo Sport Spettacolo Regione Sicilia Comune di TaorminaProvincia di MessinaComune di Messina With the contribution of:Fondazione Roma MediterraneoEuropean UnionPofesrPresidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri – Dipartimento della GioventùMinistero dello Sviluppo EconomicoSicilia Film CommissionSensi contemporaneiCinesiciliaAssessorato Beni Culturali - Regione SiciliaServizio turistico regionale di TaorminaAssociazione Albergatori TaorminaAzienda servizi Municipalizzati TaorminaAssociazioni Imprenditori per Taormina Official partners LanciaVideobankGerardo Sacco Special partners GamenetOlivia & MarinoPanorama TV Media Partner The Hollywood Reporter Official sponsors Fiuggi IkeaOrazio TomarchioBoccadamoValdo Technical partners CinemeccanicaSub-ti