Taormina’s 54th edition packed with titles and events
The Taormina Film Festival has announced the line-up of its 54th edition, to be held June 15-21. Two European titles are part of this year’s Mediterranea Competition: Love Me No More (France) by Jean Becker and Branko Djuric’s Tractor, Love and Rock ‘n’ Roll (Slovenia), making their international and world premieres, respectively.
The jury will be headed by Turkish-born but Italian-based director Ferzan Ozpetek and includes Mirsad Purivatra (director, Sarajevo Film Festival), Jytte Jensen (film curator, MOMA), French actress Elsa Zylberstein and Portuguese producer Paulo Branco.
A second competition, Beyond the Mediterranean, features an Audience Award and includes four European films: Gerardo Olivares’ 14 Kilometres [+see also:
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film profile] (Spain), the international premiere of Ulrik Wivel’s Come Back (Denmark), Mike Figgis’ Love Live Long (UK) and Mary McGuckian’s Inconceivable (Ireland). The latter two make their world premieres at Taormina.
As per custom, the festival will show films nightly in the city’s ancient Greco-Roman amphitheatre, as well as offer masterclasses, Campus Taormina 2008 and hold event screenings of restored and new international titles.
New in 2008 is Spazio Taormina–Sicilia Film Commission. The industry space had an exploratory run in 2007 and will this year host 25 buyers, distributors and world sales agents. It is co-sponsored by the Sicilia Film Commission and the Italian Trade Board.
“Working closely with the Region of Sicily,” said festival director Deborah Young, “we have tried to expand the festival to make it more relevant to young audiences and producers alike. With this in mind, we have created two new sections, Campus Taormina and Spazio Taormina–Sicilia Film Commission, destined to have a major effect on the festival’s future.”
This year’s Guest of Honour is Turkey.
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