It’s great to see how much the two sections grew in such a short time. My intention was never for them to be a self-referencing, niche programme of movies – nothing of the sort. To be sure, Orizzonti is a space that is less constrained by the canons of a great film festival: it is more open and free, and that’s the reason why it is also the most inclusive section and why it can grow in any direction. When we decided to start the Orizzonti programme, our goal was to make two competitions that would each act as one side of a single coin. Occasionally, we had a hard time convincing the established director that yes, their film belonged in Orizzonti and no, Orizzonti is by no means a second-rank programme. Over time, diffidence evaporated and Orizzonti grew so dynamic and independent that can accept anything. This is its strongest suit.
