by InTrieste
The 36th edition of the Trieste Film Festival (TSFF36) offered a vibrant lineup on its seventh day, showcasing a blend of cinema, art, and literature with a focus on the Balkans and beyond. Here are the highlights:
Morning Highlights
- Cultural Transition in the Balkans: At 11:00 a.m. in Sala Bobi Bazlen, the discussion A Couple of Years for Us: Music, Cinema, Art and Transition in Former Yugoslavia brought together academics Ana Dević (University of Bologna), Marco Jakovljević (University of Zagreb), and Giustina Selvelli (University of Ljubljana). They explored how music and art predated and influenced the sociopolitical fragmentation of the former Yugoslavia.
- Q&A with Festival Directors: Simultaneously, Antico Caffè San Marco hosted Q&A sessions with filmmakers including Sergei Loznitsa (The Invasion), Ado Hasanović (My Father’s Diaries), and others.
Afternoon Screenings
- Feature Film Competition: At 2:00 p.m., the Politeama Rossetti screened The Shameless, directed by Konstantin Bojanov. The film follows Renuka, a young woman fleeing a bordello in Delhi, as she embarks on a dangerous journey toward freedom. Actress Anasuya Sengupta won Best Actress at Cannes 2024 for her role.
- Documentary Competition: Cinema Ambasciatori featured Alice On & Off by Isabela Tent, a decade-spanning portrayal of a young Romanian woman navigating early motherhood, trauma, and resilience.
Evening Events
- Out-of-Competition Premiere: At 6:00 p.m., Dimitris Nakos’ Kreas premiered. Set in a Greek mountain village, the film examines family tensions, crime, and loyalty.
- Highlight Screening: Saulė Bliuvaitė’s Akiplėša was shown at 8:00 p.m., offering a poignant coming-of-age story set in an industrial Lithuanian town. The film, which premiered at Locarno 2024, explores themes of identity and ambition.
- Slovenia’s Oscar Entry: Closing the day at 10:00 p.m., Sonja Prosenc’s Odrešitev za začetnike presented a satirical look at a wealthy Slovenian family unraveling under the arrival of a mysterious stranger.
Literary Insights
Dino Pešut’s novel Figlio di Papà (Daddy’s Boy) was presented at the Ubik bookstore at 6:00 p.m. The Croatian author’s work examines millennial struggles in the post-Yugoslav context.
Global Concerns in Documentary
- Pociągi by Maciej J. Drygas used archival footage to portray 20th-century human experiences.
- Himlen Over Zenica followed the environmental and health crises in Zenica, Bosnia, highlighting the impact of industrial pollution on local communities.
Conclusion
With its rich programming, TSFF36 continues to bridge cultures, spark dialogue, and bring diverse voices to the forefront of cinematic and artistic expression.
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