Beginning seven years ago with only four films projected in an abandoned church, it has evolved into a week-long event with film screenings, lectures with industry professionals, daily concerts, art exhibits and of course, samples of Italy's best food and wine.
With submissions from over 80 countries this year, their manifesto is to help unknown talent exhibit unique work to the film-loving world. As Polish director Marcin Wrona puts it, "Seeing so many amazing films from all over the world happens nowhere else in Europe to this extent." Marcin's short MAGNET MAN received a positive response from the audience in Milan and won the best short award at this year's Tribecca Film Fest in NYC.
Over 1,400 films were submitted and whittled down to a tight 45 shorts and four features in competition. "If a film is willing to tell a story in a unique way, this is what's most important." Said festival co-founder Beniamino Saibene. "We expect the audience to be open minded to unique stories with different messages."
And unique they were. Messages ranged from far leftist views on the Geneva G8 summit in Francesco Villa's documentary, THE DISCUSSION to historical funeral traditions of conservative Muslim culture in DEATH by Iranian director Iraj Salarvand. There was a warm cultural exchange of political beliefs as well as film styles. With quality of the content aside, production values of the films were all extremely professional- most projected on 35mm.
In a conversation with Beniamino about the political situation in Massachusetts regarding the closing of the state film office, he explained that things are not very different abroad. "Here, we have never had the help of government when it comes to funding. The current problem is that [Prime Minister] Berlusconi owns 70% of Italian theaters and doesn't want to give money to indies. It gets very frustrating."
The festival will release a "Best of Fest" DVD for rental and screenings. "This year we plan to tour small theaters in Europe. To bring our show to America would be amazing. It seems as though Americans want to see unique and interesting films, so this would be the perfect solution!" Said Beniamino.
If all goes as planned, the Milan Film Festival will come to Boston early in 2003. If you can't make it to the screening, indulge yourself and take a trip to Italy next September for the festival's 8th edition. If the quality is on the same level as this year's, you will not be disappointed!
The Milan Film Festival can be contacted at www.milanofilmfestival.it or email info@milanofilmfestival.it.
Filmmaker Loren Semmons recently wrapped his film SLIGHTLY MOTIVATED in Boston. See ON LOCATION in this issue.