The third edition of the Valletta Film Festival is coming to an end this weekend. Seven feature films are competing for six Triton awards adjudicated by an international jury made up of directors, actors, producers, cinematographers, writers and critics.
These are Spoor by Agnieszka Holland (Poland), Insyriated by Philippe Van Leeuw (France, Belgium), Tom of Finland by Dome Karukoski (Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany), Columbus by Kogonada (US), Sicilian Ghost Story by Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza (Italy), Daphne by Peter Mackie Burns (UK) and The Black Pin by Ivan Marinovic (Serbia, Montenegro).
The awards to be handed out in this section are for best feature film, best director, best actor, best actress, best cinematographer and best screenplay. All films in this section are also eligible for the audience award.
Seven documentaries are competing for the best documentary award and 23 short films are competing for best short film.
The closing ceremony will take place tomorrow evening at Pjazza Teatru Rjal, with the best feature film, best documentary and the favourite film among the audience being shown at different venues (see list of screenings for more details).
The French film Bright Sunshine In is closing this year’s festival. The film by Claire Denis revolves around Isabelle (Juliette Binoche), a divorced artist with a child who is looking for love. The film also stars Xavier Beauvois, Nicolas Duvauchelle and Gerard Depardieu.
Critics have given very positive reviews of this “feminist” film. Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: “The film slowly but surely works its charms, painting a rich, emotionally complex portrait of a woman who, like Denis herself, will not let herself be boxed in.”
Guy Ludge of Variety commented: “Binoche, like her compatriot Isabelle Huppert, is an actress so adept at serenely conducting inner turmoil that we risk taking their range of notes and tones for granted. Even by her standards, however, this is complex, quietly symphonic work.”
The film will be shown at Pjazza Teatru Rjal tonight at 9pm and tomorrow at the Embassy Cinemas at 4pm and at Herbert Ganado Gardens at 9pm.
For more information and tickets, visit www.vallettafilmfestival.com.
Other screenings today
■ Short Film Programme D at St James Cavalier at 11.30am
■ 1:54 at Embassy Cinemas at 2pm
■ Everyday Heroes at St James Cavalier at 2.30pm
■ Swagger at Embassy Cinemas at 4pm
■ Beuys at St James Cavalier at 5pm
■ Arabia at Embassy Cinemas at 6pm
■ Little Buddho at St James Cavalier at 7pm
■ Rumble – The Indians Who Rocked the World at St James Cavalier at 7pm
■ Tom of Finland at Embassy Cinemas at 8.30pm
■ Radiance at St James Cavalier at 9pm
■ Amelie at St George’s Square at 9pm
■ Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts at Herbert Ganado Gardens at 9pm
Other screenings tomorrow
■ Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts at Embassy Cinemas at 2pm
■ Beuys at St James Cavalier at 2.30pm
■ The Distinguished Citizen at Embassy Cinemas at 6pm
■ Winner of the Best Feature Film at Embassy Cinemas at 8.30pm
■ Winner of the Best Documentary at St James Cavalier at 9pm
■ Winner of the Audience Award at Pjazza Teatru Rjal at 9pm