by InTrieste
The 35th Trieste Film Festival, set to take place from January 19th to 27th, promises a unique twist with two official opening films, each premiering on separate days at the festival’s traditional main venues – Teatro Miela and Politeama Rossetti. This strategic move, influenced by the complexities of theatre scheduling, aims to provide a double opportunity to showcase two outstanding films that have dominated the European cinema scene in recent months.
Kicking off the festival on January 19th at Teatro Miela is “Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World” by the acclaimed Romanian director Radu Jude. The film serves as a thought-provoking essay on cinema itself while delivering an explosive critique of modern capitalism’s cynicism. With its all-encompassing narrative, the film, set for distribution by I Wonder Pictures, features irony, moralistic outbursts, and erudite quotations, confirming Radu Jude’s genius.
On January 23rd, Politeama Rossetti takes the stage for the second opening night, presenting “Green Border” by Polish director Agnieszka Holland. This Special Jury Prize winner from the Venice Film Festival portrays an uncomfortable yet just narrative about migrants seeking refuge in Europe. Shot in powerful black and white, the film, set for general release on February 8th, captures the tragic fate of those searching for solidarity in a world where governments have forsaken them.
The collaboration between the Trieste Film Festival and the Sindacato Nazionale Critici Cinematografici Italiani (SNCCI – Union of Italian Film Critics) continues in 2024. The SNCCI will announce awards for the best films of 2023 at Politeama Rossetti, with distinctions for the best Italian film going to Marco Bellocchio’s “Rapito (Kidnapped)” and the best international film to Albert Serra’s “Pacifiction.” The latter was chosen by a dedicated committee from the 28 shortlisted films.
Established in the years leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Trieste Film Festival has been a pivotal Italian event dedicated to Central and Eastern European cinema for over three decades. It continues to introduce audiences to countries and directors often unfamiliar to Western audiences. For further information, visit www.triestefilmfestival.it/en.
