While tomorrow is the big daddy of announcements for the fall film festival season, this morning, we learn the identity of the nine feature films that will populate the Settimana Internazionale della Critica section which, much like the Critics’ Week at the Cannes is dedicated to features from first-time filmmakers. In the seven competition film items we have the likes of Bernhard Wenger, Alexandra Simpson and Muhammed Hamdy, while the opening and closing films were items we’ve been tracking for some time now. Planète B. by French filmmaker Aude Léa Rapin is the only sophomore feature in the section — production took place in March of last year with the likes of Adele Exarchopoulos, Souheila Yacoub and India Hair. A sci-fiction thriller follows Julia, one of the activists who mysteriously disappeared after participating in a violent protest. After being shot in the eye by a flash-ball gun, Julia fainted and woke up in an unknown world, known as Planet B. Rapin had previously directed Heroes Don’t Die (read review) in 2019 – which was selected for the Critics’ Week section in Cannes. The closing title honors go to another French title. Selected for Gan Film Foundation coin, Lawrence Valin‘s Little Jaffna is a feature based on the short of the same name. Production on the crime drama took place last September. Set in Paris in 2008. Michael Beaulieu, a young cop from the lowest echelons of society, is singled out by the General Directorate for Internal Security to infiltrate a Tamil pro-independence organization in order to bring down one of its biggest money men. But the more he immerses himself inside this community, the more Michael seems to identify with the people he’s meant to destroy.
Of the seven competition films, we got a project that was selected for Cannes Film Festival’s Cinefondation residency, Austrian filmmaker Bernhard Wenger’s tragicomedy feature debut is toplined by Albrecht Schuch (All Quiet on the Western Front). Peacock tells the story Matthias who works at a rent-a-friend agency and finds it increasingly difficult to open up again and be authentic in his private life. Alexandra Simpson‘s debut has a noticeable producer onboard in Tyler Taormina – who had a heck of a Cannes with two films in the Quinzaine section. No Sleep Till in Florida set – it follows, among others, a furtive storm chaser, two young brothers who are trying to run away from home, a has-been country singer preparing for her last bar room show and a young girl witnessing her familiar world unravel. A producer and award-winning cinematographer for projects that include The Square (2013) and Olmo & the Seagull (2015), Muhammed Hamdy‘s Perfumed with Mint was recently featured in the Atlas Ateliers in Marrakech. This is about Alaa is a 30-year-old doctor. In his clinic one day, he is visited by Mahdy, an old friend who needs help with a strange phenomenon afflicting him: mint is sprouting from his body. Alaa and Mahdy are without shelter. The scent of mint attracts danger, which chases them through their deteriorating city. They are led through a series of disturbing encounters with former companions.
Here are the selections:
IN COMPETITION
Anywhere Anytime – Milad Tangshir (Italy)
Don’t Cry, Butterfly – Dương Diệu Linh (Vietnam, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia)
Homegrown (doc) – Michael Premo (United States)
No Sleep Till – Alexandra Simpson (United States, Switzerland)
Paul & Paulette Take a Bath – Jethro Massey (United Kingdom)
Peacock – Bernhard Wenger (Austria, Germany)
Perfumed with Mint – Muhammed Hamdy (Egypt, France, Tunisia)
FUORI CONCORSO FILM DI APERTURA
Planète B. – Aude Léa Rapin
FILM DI CHIUSURA
Little Jaffna – Lawrence Valin
