29/09/2020 - Marcello Sannino’s debut work wins the festival’s first edition, while its protagonist Ivana Lotito scoops the Best Actress accolade

Rose Stone Star [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], Marcello Sannino’s debut work starring Ivana Lotito, Ludovica Nasti and Fabrizio Rongione, has walked away with the award for Best Film at the first ever edition of the Matera Film Festival: “For the pertinence of its subject matter – the jury’s statement explains – addressed within a coherent structure which tells a wholly female story of survival in uncliched fashion. The film’s measured mise en scene, which is never intrusive, is complemented by a sincere and moving acting performance”. Indeed, protagonist Ivana Lotito was awarded the trophy for Best Actress. The film is produced by Antonella Di Nocera (Parallelo 41 Produzioni), Gaetano Di Vaio and Giovanna Crispino (Bronx Film) and Pier Francesco Aiello (PFA Films, who are heading up distribution) alongside RAI Cinema. Released in cinemas in late August, Rose Stone Star was selected for the Annecy Italian Film Festival and IFFR – the International Film Festival Rotterdam, as well as the Pesaro and Giffoni film festivals.

Other titles taking home trophies include The Nest [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Roberto De Feo
film profile] by Roberto De Feo, for Best Directorial Debut, and Samira’s Dream [+see also:
film review
film profile] by Nino Tropiano, crowned Best Documentary. The awards for Best Actor and for Best Newcomer were won by Franco Nero and Pieluigi Gigante, respectively, the former for his role in Paolo Consorti’s film Havana Kyrie and the latter for his part in Salvatore Metastasio’s Mors tua vita mea.

The victors were decided upon by the jury of the International Feature Film and Short Film Competition (MFF Long, MFF Short), presided over by directors Giuseppe Stasi and Giancarlo Fontana, and comprising Professor of Film History Manuela Gieri, author and screenwriter Mariolina Venezia, producer Elisabetta Olmi, director Fabrizio Cattani, comic book artist Giuseppe Palumbo and actress Sara Ricci.

The winners’ list is as follows:

Best Film
Rose Stone Star [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Marcello Sannino (Italy) 

Best Actress
Ivana Lotito – Rose Stone Star

Best Actor
Franco Nero - Havana Kyrie (Italy/Cuba/US) 

Best Newcomer
Pierluigi Gigante - Mors tua vita mea (Italy)

Best Directorial Debut
Roberto De Feo - The Nest [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Roberto De Feo
film profile] (Italy)

Best Short Film
Slaughter - Saman Hosseinpour, Ako Zandkarimi (Iran)
Special Mention
Malakout - Farnoosh Abedi (Iran/Oman)

Best Documentary
Samira’s Dream [+see also:
film review
film profile] - Nino Tropiano (Italy/Switzerland/Ireland)
Special Mention
Howling - Parsa Bozorgani (Iran)

(Translated from Italian)