Lecce, Golden Olive Tree for Oslo, August 31st, but Italian film wins most awards

by Vittoria Scarpa

23/04/2012 - First Prize at the Lecce Festival of European Cinema goes to Norway, but the undisputed star of the closing ceremony, held on Saturday April 21, is an Italian. While the Golden Olive Tree was presented to Oslo, August 31st [trailer, film focus] by Joachim Trier (already winner of a Golden Olive Tree in 2006 with Reprise [trailer, film focus]), who in Lecce receives further confirmation after his extraordinary international audience success and recognition, Vacuum [trailer, film focus] (photo), first feature by Turin-born 32 year-old director Giorgio Cugno, received the highest number of awards: apart from the Jury’s Special Prize, it won the FIPRESCI, the €5000 prize and the Award presented by Cineuropa, which will do a film focus on Vacuum.

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A subtle exploration of post-natal depression, Vacuum was chosen by the international jury with Luciana Castellina as its president, "for making it clear, through risky and innovative cinematographic language, how day-to-day normalcy can hide the anguish of female depression, to the point of suspending consciousness". Powerful subjects are also at the heart of the films chosen for best photography and best screenplay, respectively Poland’s Fear of Falling by Bartek Konopka (see the news) about the relationship between a son and a mentally ill father, and Spain’s Don't be afraid [trailer, film focus] by Montxo Armendáriz about the drama of incest, also winner of the Premo Officine LAB for supporting actor Rubén Ochandiano.

The Mario Verdone Award of this 13th edition of the festival, directed by Cristina Soldano and Alberto la Monica, and which has hosted super guests Sergio Castellitto, Emir Kusturica and Terry Gilliam (see the news), went to Italo-French co-production I am Li [trailer, film focus] by Andrea Segre (watch the itv video in Venice), chosen by the Verdone brothers (see the other finalists here) "because it promotes the themes of love and understanding between people from two different and distant cultures and portrays two individuals united in sharing the solitude of their existence".

The SNGCI (National Union of Italian Film Journalists) Award for Best European Actor went to Olga Simonova for Russian film Bedouin by Igor Voloshin. Finally, the Puglia Show Awards (a short-film competition for young Apulian directors) were presented to Il bando by Gianluca Sportelli and Altri giorni by Giovanna Delvino.

The next edition of the Festival of European Cinema will be held in Lecce on April 9-13, 2013.

(Translated from Italian)