After four intense days, the Off, the Orgosolo Film Festival, concluded yesterday with the announcement of the winners in the various competing categories. A tribute was paid to Abruzzo director Carlo Liberatore , who won a double award (the Pratobello Award for Best Feature Film and the People's Jury Award) for his film The Madmen Coach.
This marks the end of a second edition that has seen significant growth compared to the first: audience appreciation and attendance, community participation in the festival days, and the quality of the works presented to the jury.
There were many emotional and engaging moments, with questions to the authors and contributions from the increasingly engaged audience. Yesterday, the work produced by elementary school students, led by Orgosolo director Antonio Congiu , was truly moving. A short film written and performed by the children, who sought to highlight the importance of the Sardinian language as a treasure to be protected and passed on to future generations.
This edition, too, is all about perseverance and determination, and a healthy dose of courage. These elements are part of the DNA and approach of social commentary.
The film festival once again focused, as is its mission, on promoting films by regional, national and international directors (31 in competition) who aim to recognise the “social” value of filmmaking through denunciation, protest and reflection.
Yesterday, director Paolo Benvenuti 's masterclass, which included a screening of his controversial film, "Segreti di Stato," was a resounding success. Benvenuti will soon be in Orgosolo for his next film, which in this area "has the perfect setting I was looking for," said the Tuscan director.
"We're satisfied; we've recharged our batteries with energy and valuable meetings. These elements fuel our enthusiasm for the next edition, which we're already thinking about," said Paolo Carboni and Daniele Gaglianone, the festival's artistic directors.
One of the new features of this edition was the festival going beyond the confines of Uta prison, with a jury of inmates awarding the “Tziulai” prize.
In addition to The Madmen Coach, Orosi by Mohammad Hormozi was awarded Best Short Film . The official jury awarded special mentions to The First Times / Le Prime volte by Giulia Cosentino and Perla Sardella, Rhubarb Rhubarb by Kate McMullen, A Sisyphean Task by Gus Flind-Henry and George Malcher, and Majonezë by Giulia Grandinetti, which also received a special mention from the popular jury, which also awarded Largo by Max Burgoyne-Moore and Salvatore Scarpa as Best Popular Short Film.
The Tziu Lai Award for Exploitative Journalism was won by A Beast Touch the Mountain by James Mottern, alongside TV and Web Special Mentions for Far from the Center - Cantico errante di un DJ Senza Tempo by Roberto Pili and La Lixeira - La virtù degli invisibili by Guido Galante and Antonio Notarangelo, while the Amnesty International Special Mention was awarded to In Gaza Pietas by Diego Monfredini.
(Unioneonline/AD)