06/03/2009

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the 27th edition of the Bergamo Film Meeting. One of the most beloved festivals of Italian cinephiles, the event runs through March 15 and continues to cultivate its interest in young European filmmakers.

Apart from Lucía Cedrón’s Argentinean film Cordero de Dios (which is nevertheless a French co-production) all the other competition films this year are European. There are three international premieres: Francesco Jost’ Italian-language Swiss film Segreti e sorelle (“Secrets and Sisters”), the story of two sisters who see each other after years to sell their mother’s house; UK title Ana Begins by Ben O’Connor, on a woman grappling with feelings of guilt as she rebuilds her life after her husband’s death; and Romanian filmmaker Andrei Gruzsniczki’s The Other Irina, on the mystery surrounding a woman named Irene, who emigrated to Egypt and disappeared without a trace.

As always, there are many non-competition events, from a complete retrospective on French filmmaker Claire Denis (from Chocolat to her latest, 35 Shots of Rum [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) to the sidebar “Visti da vicino” (“Seen From Up Close”) dedicated to documentaries. As well as older films, such as a retrospective on celebrated English director Carol Reed (The Third Man) and a ten-film tribute to Hollywood icon Bette Davis.

(Translated from Italian)