03/07/2008

Peter von Bagh is “surprised by the generosity of the Cinematheque of Bologna”. Von Bagh is the Finnish director Il cinema ritrovato (“Cinema rediscovered”), the event that for over 20 years has been transforming the city of Bologna into a film culture capital for the entire world.

“In what other part of the world are you given the miraculous possibility to see hundreds of rare films in just one week?” he adds. His is a rhetorical question, for one glance at the programme of this year’s edition (which runs through July 5) is enough: there are tributes, restored classics, as well as found and, naturally, rediscovered titles.

Organised with a contribution from the European Union’s MEDIA Programme (and in collaboration with Europa Cinemas), the festival this year offers works by Alfred Hitchcock (Blackmail, accompanied by a new score by Neil Brand, which will be performed in world premiere), Max Ophuls (with the French version of Lola Montès) and Josef von Sternberg (on whom a wide and spectacular retrospective is being held).

Italian cinema is present with a selection of films based on the novels of Giovanni Guareschi (this year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth and the 40th anniversary of the death of the author of Don Camillo) and a tribute to Alessandro Blasetti, whose archives the Cinematheque of Bologna recently acquired and which comprise 9,000 photos, 250 screenplays and a vast collection of magazines.

Yet the event is not only about screenings. With support from the FIAF (Féderation Internationale des Archives du Film, ACE (Association des Cinémathèques Européennes) and MEDIA, during the festival the Cinematheque also promotes the Film Restoration Summer School, as part of a biennial programme (for 2008-09) dedicated to film restoration.

(Translated from Italian)