Venice International Film Festival Reveals Orizzonti Short Films Line-up
The line-up for the Orizzonti Short Films International Competition has been finalized for the 81st Venice International Film Festival, set to take place from August 28 to September 7, 2024. The prestigious event, organized by La Biennale di Venezia and directed by Alberto Barbera, will present the world premiere screenings of thirteen short films. These films, representing sixteen different countries, will compete for the coveted Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film, assigned by the Jury of the Orizzonti section.
The Orizzonti section is dedicated to showcasing a wide range of trends in contemporary filmmaking, and this year’s selection is a testament to its international scope and diversity. Below is the complete list of the selected films:
- "Neredeyse Kesinlikle Yanlış" (Almost Certainly False) by Cansu Baydar, featuring Rahaf Armanazi, İsa Karataş, Ferhat Akgün, Büşra Albayrak, Ubey Gül from Turkey (20 minutes).
- "Shadows" by Rand Beiruty, an animation from France and Jordan (11 minutes).
- "Il Burattino e la Balena" by Roberto Catani, an animation from France and Italy (8 minutes).
- "Duyao Mao" (The Poison Cat) by Tian Guan, featuring Liguo Yuan, Yanxi Li from China (17 minutes).
- "Nime Baz, Nime Basteh" (Ajar) by Atefeh Jalali, featuring Ebrahim Azizi, Masoomeh Iranshahi from Iran (12 minutes).
- "Three Keenings" by Oliver McGoldrick, featuring Seamus O’Hara, Sean Kearns, Carol Moore, Caitriona Hinds, Niall Cusack from the UK, Ireland, and USA (10 minutes).
- "Minha Mãe é uma Vaca" (My Mother is a Cow) by Moara Passoni, featuring Luísa Bastos, Helena Albergaria, Amorosa No, Ana Carolina Guztazaky, Claudio Rodrigues da Silva from Brazil (15 minutes).
- "René va alla Guerra" by Mariachiara Pernisa, Luca Ferri, and Morgan Menegazzo, a documentary from Italy and Slovenia (18 minutes).
- "James" by Andres Rodríguez, featuring James Maldonado, Jose Poz, Erick Maldonado from Guatemala and Mexico (20 minutes).
- "O" by Rúnar Rúnarsson, featuring Ingvar E. Sigurðsson from Iceland and Sweden (20 minutes).
- "Who Loves the Sun" by Arshia Shakiba, a documentary from Canada (19 minutes).
- "Moon Lake" by Jeannie Sui Wonders, featuring Grace Hunt Sui, Chase Sui Wonders, Riley Downey, Valeria Embarcadero Perez, Daphne Williams, Sophie Watson from the USA (12 minutes).
- "Marion" by Joe Weiland and Finn Constantine, featuring Caroline Noguès-Larbère, Radouan Leflahi, Laurent Fernandez, Manuel Severi, Chloé Bugard from France and the UK (13 minutes).
These films, ranging from animations to documentaries, cover a variety of themes and styles, reflecting the richness of global cinema. The Orizzonti section's jury will deliberate to determine the winner of the Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film, which will be one of the highlights of this year’s festival.