02/07/2009

Important premieres, international guests and solidarity mark the 39th edition of the Giffoni Experience, which from July12-25 will offer its 2,800 young jurors (from 2-31 years old, from 29 countries) approximately 150 films and 25 special events subjects that range from ecology to family, adolescence to love, and include the drama on African child soldiers, Johnny Mad Dog [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (France), directed by Jean-Pierre Sauvaire and produced by Mathieu Kassovitz.

European titles include Swedish film Glowing Stars [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Lisa Siwe and Nicolas Bary’s Trouble at Timpetill [+see also:
trailer
film profile], featuring Gerard Depardieu and Carole Bouquet.

The event’s opening film will be the exclusive premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince [+see also:
trailer
film profile], whose Warner Bros day-and-date release is set for three days later. Other premieres are: S. Darko, G-Force, Imagine That, Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience, Planet 51 and Ice Age 3.

US and Australian coming to Giffoni are Winona Ryder, Eva Mendes, Naomi Watts, Christina Ricci, Baz Luhrmann and Liev Schreiber, while local stars — such as Claudio Santamaria, Sergio Castellitto, Laura Morante and Filippo Timi – will come to the festival to meet with the kids and hold masterclasses.

Giffoni will also reach behind entertainment. Festival president Claudio Gubitosi has wants to show solidarity with Iranian students, and has asked festival participants to wear something green during their stay in Giffoni, where Iranian film A Time to Love by Ebrahim Forouzesh will screen in competition.

Special Events include an evening dedicated to Sergio Leone with the screening of Once Upon a Time in the West and the presentation of the Vittorio Mezzogiorno Award to an emerging actor and actress.