The work-in-progress copies of the seven selected films will play to producers, buyers, distributors, post-production companies and festival programmers.
The 12th edition of Final Cut in Venice has selected seven work-in-progress films, continuing its mission to support the completion of films from African countries and five Middle Eastern nations: Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria.
Since its inception in 2013, this industry programme has been a pivotal part of the Venice Production Bridge at the Venice International Film Festival, directed by Alberto Barbera and organised by La Biennale di Venezia.
The Venice International Film Festival 2024 will take place from August 28 to September 7.
Final Cut in Venice provides filmmakers an opportunity to present their in-progress films to international professionals, aiding in post-production and market access. This year’s selected projects include four fiction films, two docufictions and one documentary.
The fiction films are Aisha Can’t Fly Away (Aisha la tastaea al tayran) by Morad Mostafa (Egypt, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, France), In This Darkness I See You by Nadim Tabet (Lebanon, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia); My Father’s Scent by Mohamed Siam (Egypt, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, France); and The Prophet (O Profeta) by Ique Langa (Mozambique, South Africa).
In the docufiction category, Ancestral Visions of the Future by Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese (France, Germany, Lesotho) and Your Daughter by Sara Shazli (Egypt) were selected. The documentary Those Who Watch Over (Ceux qui veillent) by Karima Saidi (Belgium, France, Qatar) also made the cut.
The programme will span three days, from September 1 to 3, 2024, at the Venice Lido during the Venice Production Bridge and the 81st Venice Film Festival, in which the working copies of the seven selected films are introduced to producers, buyers, distributors, post-production companies and film festival programmers.
The first two days are dedicated to screenings, followed by one-on-one meetings between the selected projects and industry professionals with a GOLD or TRADE accreditation on the third day. In the framework of the VPB Focus on Wallonia-Brussels, one film has been selected.
The event will culminate in the awarding of prizes to support the films in their post-production phase. La Biennale di Venezia will award a €5,000 prize for the best film in post-production, with additional independent prizes totalling over €100,000 from commercial partners.
The La Biennale di Venezia Prize will be decided by a jury of three members appointed by the Festival Director, while other prizes will be awarded by the Festival Director and Final Cut in Venice supporters.
The programme continues to receive additional support from the Red Sea International Film Festival.
