World wide cinema

The InLaguna Film Festival will take place in Venice from December 9 to 15. A collective of cultural associations founded in June 2020 (a testament to the resilience of its members) continues to pursue its vision of a “cultural city” with a program that attracts both cinema enthusiasts and newcomers. The festival opens with a special guest: director Whit Stillman, who will present his debut film Metropolitan at Multisala Rossini on Thursday, December 11, marking 35 years since its release. A classic of American comedy, Metropolitan is a brilliant portrait of New York’s upper class during the holiday season, and has inspired filmmakers such as Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach. The collaboration with the Swiss Consulate in Venice and the Cinémathèque Suisse is renewed, presenting a tribute to Swiss director Alain Tanner at Palazzo Trevisan degli Ulivi. Tanner, one of Switzerland’s most significant filmmakers, will be honoured with screenings of La vallée fantôme, Dans la ville blanche, and La Salamandre.

The festival closes with a heartfelt tribute to Venice itself: on December 14, Silvio Soldini will present Pane & Tulipani to the public, celebrating 25 years since its release. The InLaguna Film Festival competition takes place from Friday, December 12 to Sunday, December 14 at the Teatrino di Palazzo Grassi. Featured films include Daria’s Night Flowers by Iranian director Maryam Tafakory, who will be present at the screening. This poetic, nocturnal experiment blends salvific and poisonous flowers with cinematic memories. Also featured is the wild short film Loynes by Belgian Dorian Jespers, a Kafkaesque courtroom drama set in 19th-century Liverpool. A major new addition this year is the “Altre Maree” section, hosted at Cinema Dante in Mestre. Organized in collaboration with the student association Quarta Parete, this section will focus on showcasing the best of young Italian cinema from this year.

Featured image: Daria’s Night Flowers by Maryam Tafakory

PROGRAMME