The 68th Venice Film Festival 2011

16 Aug

By Ozzie

 The 68th Venice Film Festival starts on the 31st of August and ends on the 10th of September. It was founded in 1932 by Count Giuseppe Volpe making it the oldest film festival and one of the most prestigious in the film industry.  The aim of this festival is to showcase the different aspects in the film industry and hand out awards, Leone d’Oro (Golden Lion for best film) and the Coppa Volpi (Volpi Cup for best actor and actress). Darren Aronofsky (director of Black Swan) will be this year’s Head of the Jury to decide the winners. This year’s opening film will be The Ides of March, written and directed by George Clooney and its closing film is Damsels in Distress by Whit Stillman.[1]

There are to be 65 new films (with 34 countries represented) to be premiered at the film festival and they fall under three main sections, Venenzia 68 (in competition), Out of Competition and Orizzonti (new trends in World Cinema). Some notable films in competition are Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Wuthering Heights, A Dangerous Method and of course The Ides of March. In the Out of Competition category some interesting films being screened are The Moth Diaries, W.E. (Madonna’s second directed film), Wilde Salome, Contagion and Damsels in Distress.[2]

This year’s Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement award is going to Marco Bellocchio, who is one of Italy’s greatest film makers, and his film Nel norme del padre (In the Name of the Father) is to be shown after the Golden Lion award ceremony. Al Pacino will also be receiving an award, the Glory to the Film-maker, on the 4th of September. This award is given to a film-maker who has left a memorable mark in cinematic history.[3]

Please join us for our discussion Tuesday 8/16/2011@7pE/12UTC

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42 Responses to “The 68th Venice Film Festival 2011”

  1. littlebells August 16, 2011 at 6:55 PM #

    i tried to get the SMFF but i couldnt. 😦 i am here and on my phone so hang in there with me!!!!

    • ozzie20 August 16, 2011 at 7:01 PM #

      Lol, that’s ok. I’m half asleep here! you’ll have to bear with me too!

  2. Parisienne August 16, 2011 at 7:02 PM #

    Hello!

    Ozzie, awesome article. Will you be doing any other film festival articles?

    • ozzie20 August 16, 2011 at 7:04 PM #

      Thank you!

      Yes, I do hope to be doing more festival articles.

      • Parisienne August 16, 2011 at 7:10 PM #

        What did you find most intriguing about this festival over all the other festivals? i.e. The Sundance Film Festival.

        • ozzie20 August 16, 2011 at 7:15 PM #

          Well, I wrote about this one as it was the next one on the calender, but I never knew much about it. It was fascinating to find out it was the oldest film festival and how much they encourage and promote new work.

          • Parisienne August 16, 2011 at 7:18 PM #

            that’s cool.

          • littlebells August 16, 2011 at 7:27 PM #

            that would be an amazing experience!!!

            • ozzie20 August 16, 2011 at 7:29 PM #

              I know, I’d love to go to a film festival!

  3. Parisienne August 16, 2011 at 7:26 PM #

    Ozzie,

    What film did Al Pacino do that was notable?

    • ozzie20 August 16, 2011 at 7:28 PM #

      It is for his overall body of work.

      • Parisienne August 16, 2011 at 7:29 PM #

        oh. 🙂

        • comic relief August 16, 2011 at 8:21 PM #

          Paris,

          I have an actor question pertaining to George Clooney. I know this depends on the specic actor but how do you personally feel about actors who frequently work with the same director.

          I’ve noticed in popular music when musicians work with the same producer over and over again many audiences look down on this. For instance Madonna is given a lot of credit for working with a lot of producers. What do you think?

    • comic relief August 16, 2011 at 7:54 PM #

      OOOOHHHH, burn. Sorry I spent one part of tday around tweens in the library.

      So Paris, what do you really think?

      • Parisienne August 16, 2011 at 8:44 PM #

        CR,

        Sorry it took me a while to respond to you. I was reading and couldn’t put it down. I think that actors and directors become familiar with each other over time and that certain directors have a “feel” to them that actors want to acheive in their careers. In other words, some actors don’t want to step out of their comfort zone. They are familiar with how the director works and the director knows what he can expect from the actor. Hope that makes sense.

        • comic relief August 16, 2011 at 8:53 PM #

          Paris,

          Certainly makes sense, but I wonder is this a good thing. I have seen too many Tim Burton movies starring Johnny Depp.

          If I see him in white pancake make-up, and crazy hair weave one more time I will probably fall asleep.

          I understand the comfortable relationship thing with a director, but do you know of anyone one who has significantly suffered because of these relations?

          • comic relief August 17, 2011 at 1:25 PM #

            Sorry, the only reason I think this is such a fascinating subject is because it’s such a study in contradictions. Film making folks are so collaborative yet they’re equally free agents. How can people so independent discern when a union essential or effective?

            These are my notes:

            For a long time the Deniro/Scorsese collaboration was really hot. But eventually it appeared that Deniro needed his space so the team that brought us “Raging Bull”, “Good Fellas”, and “Casino” was caput. Dicaprio seems to be filling Deniro’s shoes at the moment, but I’m thinking this may not be long lived because their collaboration seems to deliver Leo the material but not anything else. The aviator is one of best films I have ever seen, IMO.

            The Washington/Lee collaboration put them both on the map. After winning an Oscar with Antoine Fuqua, Washington seems to be the one who needed to walk. I’m not sure Lee has recovered.

            Though I thought Steven Soderbergh was retiring, I don’t know that his relationship with Clooney has any benefits other than financial ones. Then again maybe that’s enough for that business.

            Thanks, I’m finished.

  4. comic relief August 16, 2011 at 7:38 PM #

    Hi all.

    • Parisienne August 16, 2011 at 7:41 PM #

      Hi CR!

      How are you?

      • ozzie20 August 16, 2011 at 7:43 PM #

        Hello CR!

        • comic relief August 16, 2011 at 7:50 PM #

          Hi Ozzie,

          You always have such cine-smart topics.

          Feel bad that I did not know this was Madonna’s SECOND movie?

          Why is everyone so sure Contagion will be good. I’ll look at the trailer again seems everyone is sure the movie will be great. For now I’ll assume it is the cast.

          • ozzie20 August 16, 2011 at 7:54 PM #

            No, I confess I had to look up the Madonna thing! 🙂

            I agree about Contagion. I too think it’s because the cast is full of talented a-listers.

            • comic relief August 16, 2011 at 8:08 PM #

              O.K. I’m over the embarassment. What was her first film?

              • comic relief August 16, 2011 at 8:10 PM #

                Sorry, I’ll look it up. I’m taking your work for it that the information is on IMBD.

                By the way great article.

                • ozzie20 August 16, 2011 at 8:14 PM #

                  No, it’s ok! Her first film was Filth and Wisdom. I had to look that up too, lol!

                  Thank you!

                • comic relief August 16, 2011 at 8:15 PM #

                  First film: “Filth and Wisdom.” Well I guess that’s something she probably knows a lot about. Too bad I never heard anything about that movie.

      • comic relief August 16, 2011 at 7:45 PM #

        Fine Paris.

        As usual thanks (very much) for asking,

  5. littlebells August 16, 2011 at 7:39 PM #

    How do they pick who is the head judge?

    • comic relief August 16, 2011 at 7:44 PM #

      LB,

      I’m sure picking a head judge is determined by some arcane organizational politics that might not make any sense to someone unfamilar with the contest. At least that how things work in the art world where these determinations have little to do with the viewing public, IMO.

      • littlebells August 16, 2011 at 7:59 PM #

        Thanks CR! Yeah I’m sure they have their own special requirements

        • comic relief August 16, 2011 at 8:32 PM #

          LB,

          (or anyone really)

          With so many physical films (Black Swan, The Wrestler) now in his portfolio Darren Aronosky seems like a good candidate to judge a wide range of films.

          Many times in the past you expressed a lot of faith in triple threats. Would you claim that Aronosky could claim this title as a director, and if not what would it take?

          • ozzie20 August 16, 2011 at 8:41 PM #

            I think he could claim that title easily. I was looking at his IMDB page and he’s only directed nine films. The first four are short films, I’m not sure how the 5th film did (Pi) but the last four have been critically acclaimed and successful. I think he’s a very talented man and will make a good judge.

            • comic relief August 16, 2011 at 8:55 PM #

              I think he’s pretty wonderful also. I was wondering whether anyone else thought the same.

    • ozzie20 August 16, 2011 at 7:47 PM #

      I think that the organisers picked him. Each year there is a different head judge.

  6. comic relief August 16, 2011 at 8:07 PM #

    Ozzie,

    (…Or anyone actually)

    I tend to think of George Clooney having a very checkered past in terms of quality films, (most directed by Steven Soderbergh).

    For every movie I enjoyed; “Ocean’s Eleven,” “Up in the Air”, “Michael Clayton” he has about 3 others (each) I did not respond well to.

    Do you have any idea why they would have him open the festival?

    • ozzie20 August 16, 2011 at 8:22 PM #

      Hmm, I’ve read the festival’s press release and it doesn’t say. It just mentions that there is alot of talent both in front and behind the camera. Here’s the press release.

      http://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/news/clooney.html

      • comic relief August 16, 2011 at 8:46 PM #

        Ozzie,

        Oh.

        I guess I should n’t be surprised; another cast answer for another general question.

        Ryan Gosling is cast and (in terms of a streak) continues to burn up the charts in the feature film world.

  7. Parisienne August 16, 2011 at 8:53 PM #

    All,

    i’m going to go for the night have a good night!

    • ozzie20 August 16, 2011 at 8:54 PM #

      Night Paris!

      Anyone else have any questions they’d like to ask?

      • comic relief August 16, 2011 at 8:56 PM #

        No questions for me.

        Again great article Ozzie.

        Night.

        • ozzie20 August 16, 2011 at 8:57 PM #

          Thank you!

          Ok then, I’ll let you all go and have a good night! 🙂

          Take care all.

  8. Open Book August 17, 2011 at 2:59 PM #

    Ozzie

    Great article and discussion. I’m really looking forward to your articles on the other film festivals as well.

Comments are closed.

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