OUT OF COMPETITION
ERIN BROKOVICH
Steven Soderbergh DCP, 131' (USA) 2000
A single mother, with no formal legal training, becomes an unstoppable force against a powerful energy corporationafter uncovering a devastating case of water contamination that threatens the health of an entire community.
Steven Soderbergh is an American director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, and editor, renowned for his versatility and for redefining independent American cinema.
🏆 At just 26 years old, he won the Palme d’Or with his debut film Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989), earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
Soderbergh solidified his reputation with acclaimed films such as:
🎬 Erin Brockovich (2000)
🎬 Traffic (2000) – won the Oscar for Best Director
🎬 Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
🎬 Contagion (2011)
An innovator and experimenter, he is known for his unique approach to filmmaking, often taking on multiple technical roles in his projects. With a career spanning both commercial hits and independent films, Soderbergh remains one of the most influential filmmakers of his generation.
FREEDOM ON FIRE
Evgeny Afineevsky DCP, 114' (USA, Ukraine) 2022
Freedom on Fire is a powerful and visceral documentary that captures the ongoing struggle of the Ukrainian peoplein the face of war, oppression, and the fight for democracy. Through firsthand accounts, raw footage, and compelling storytelling, the film reveals the human cost of conflict and the unbreakable resilience of a nation.
Evgeny Afineevsky is an Oscar and Emmy-nominated director, producer, and cinematographer, known for his socially impactful and politically charged documentaries.
🎬 Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom (2015) – Academy Award & Emmy Nominee
🎬 Cries from Syria (2017) – Emmy Nominee
🎬 Francesco (2020) – Venice Film Festival Premiere
Afineevsky's work is dedicated to exposing human rights violations and amplifying the voices of those fighting for justice and freedom. With Freedom on Fire, he continues his mission to bring urgent global issues to the forefront through the power of cinema.
I, DANIEL BLAKE
Ken Loach DCP, 100' (United Kingdom, France, Belgium) 2016
Daniel Blake, a 60-year-old carpenter, is ill and forced to rely on welfare assistance. As he struggles with an unjust bureaucratic system that keeps him trapped in poverty, he forms a powerful bond with a young single mother, Katie. I, Daniel Blake is a moving portrait of dignity, resilience, and social justice.
Ken Loach is one of the most iconic and socially committed British filmmakers. Born on June 17, 1936, in Nuneaton, England, he has established himself as a master of realist cinema and a passionate advocate for social causes.
Loach has tackled themes such as poverty, social inequality, and workers' rights, bringing to the screen stories often overlooked.
🏆 Winner of the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival twice for:
🎬 The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006)
🎬 I, Daniel Blake (2016)
Renowned for his authentic and deeply human storytelling, Loach continues to give a voice to the marginalized through his sincere and powerful cinematic style.
IL CAPITALE UMANO
Paolo Virzì DCP, 110' (Italy, France) 2013
In a northern Italian province, the lives of two families—one wealthy and the other middle-class—become tragically intertwined after a nighttime accident. Through a chapter-based narrative, the film delves into themes of greed, ambition, and the value of human life.
Paolo Virzì, born in Livorno in 1964, is one of the most prominent contemporary Italian directors and screenwriters. After graduating from the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, he debuted with La bella vita (1994), which won him the David di Donatello for Best Debut Director.
Virzì is known for his distinctive style, blending comedy and drama while exploring social and personal issues in films such as:
🎬 Ovosodo (1997)
🎬 Caterina va in città (2003)
🎬 La prima cosa bella (2010)
🎬 La pazza gioia (2016)
IL LADRO DI BAMBINI
Gianni Amelio DCP, 118' (Italy, France) 1992
A young carabiniere is assigned to escort two children, abandoned by their mother after a tragic event, to an institution. During their journey from Milan to Sicily, the three develop a deep bond, turning a formal duty into a journey of human discovery and redemption.
Gianni Amelio, born in San Pietro Magisano, Calabria, in 1945, is one of the most acclaimed Italian directors. After studying philosophy in Messina, he began his career as an assistant director and worked on various television productions.
His first cinematic success came with Colpire al cuore (1982), but it was Lamerica (1994) and Ladro di bambini (1992) that solidified his reputation as a filmmaker capable of telling intimate and complex stories, with a particular focus on social and human issues.
He has won numerous awards, including the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and multiple David di Donatello awards.
LAND AND FREEDOM
Ken Loach DCP, 109' (UK, Spain, Germany, Italy) 1995
Set during the Spanish Civil War, the film tells the story of David Carr, a young English communist who joins the International Brigades to fight fascism. Through his journey, the film explores dreams, ideological divisions, and the disillusionments that arise in the struggle to build a better world. A powerful reflection on the ideal of freedom and the compromises of political struggle.
Ken Loach, born in 1936 in Nuneaton, UK, is a renowned British filmmaker celebrated for his political and social commitment. With a career spanning decades, Loach has consistently given a voice to the oppressed, telling stories of social justice and class struggle.
His most notable films include:
🎬 Kes (1969)
🎬 Riff-Raff (1991)
🎬 I, Daniel Blake (2016)
🎬 Sorry We Missed You (2019)
He is one of the few directors to have won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival twice, a testament to his dedication to cinema as a tool for social critique and deep humanity.
RIFF RAFF
Ken Loach DCP, 95' (UK) 1991
The story follows Stevie, a construction worker struggling with precarious working conditions in a rapidly changing London. Through moments of struggle, humor, and solidarity, the film explores the hardships of the working class, social inequality, and the disillusionment of workers in 1990s England.
Ken Loach, born in Nuneaton, UK, in 1936, is one of the most influential filmmakers in British and international cinema. Known for his realistic approach and strong social commitment, Loach has dedicated his career to telling the stories of the working class and marginalized people.
His most renowned works include:
🎬 Kes (1969)
🎬 Riff-Raff (1991)
🎬 I, Daniel Blake (2016)
🎬 Sorry We Missed You (2019)
He has twice won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and is recognized for his intimate and direct storytelling style, always deeply connected to social and political realities.