From protocols and problems to Oscar competitors at the Venice Film Festival

Theater News Base: In an exclusive interview with Deadline magazine’s Andres Wiseman, Alberto Barbra answered a variety of questions about the 87th Venice Film Festival:

How do you feel about the festival so far?

I am very happy that people seem to be satisfied with the list of selected films and return to Venice. However, we still have limitations. The 50 percent capacity of the cinema is a big problem due to the limitations of Covid disease, especially when the number of delegates present at the festival is twice as high as in 2020. Last year we had about 6,000 official guests, but this year we have 10,500, and this has created problems in accessing tickets and the reservation system. We did not have any of these issues last year. It is not possible to increase the number of shows because we are using all available cinemas.

But is not supply and demand a technical problem?

I am not sure. Why can’t several hundred people book a seat at the same time? People are working hard to solve the problem, now the situation has improved somewhat and should improve a little during the week.

In terms of the success of this festival, I would not say that it was a complete surprise because we knew we would be hosting a strong mix of films and people wanted to come back to the festivals again, but we did not expect a lot of people to attend the festival. . However, this is not an explanation for the reservation system failure.

I do not remember such a positive reaction from critics to many films. Do you think this is related to the quality of the films or is it because critics are excited about returning to festivals and want to support independent films?

I think this course is an exceptional year in terms of quality. I have not been in such a situation in the last decade and we saw so many good films during the selection process that we did not know how to deal with it and we had to put aside some films that we were happy to be invited to in a normal year. . This year, there are directors who have made the best works of the last few years.

“The Power of the Dog” by Jane Campion and “The Hand of God” by Paolo Sorrentino are two critically acclaimed Netflix films. Have you seen a change in the quality of Netflix movies over the years?

In general, everyone focuses on quality. We know that online display systems play a greater role in production today, and when we emerge from the Corona epidemic, we will be faced with a completely new and different perspective. The relationship between online theater systems and the movie industry will be the opposite of what it was in the past. Many of these systems are currently run by key market players; Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Comcast, Disney, Warner Bros., all of which focus on online display systems.

Do you still benefit from the separation between Netflix and Cannes?

Of course and definitely …

Do you think “Den Sand Villeneuve” is one of the contenders for the Academy Awards?

If this film is not among the finalists for the Oscars, I will be surprised, as well as “Christine Stewart” in the acting category for her role in “Spencer” as Princess Diana.

What about Paolo Sorrentino’s “Hand of God” in the Best International Film category?

Certainly. A new generation of actors has emerged in Italy and a new generation of filmmakers, and this process of modernization is underway. We have five Italian films competing and each one is very different and there are a lot of new actors in these films. These are films that can travel abroad.

Penelope Cruz spoke about taking health protocols seriously at the festival and the need to respect them. You and the actors also wear masks while watching the film in the cinema, a process that is almost the opposite of the Cannes Film Festival, where there was less strictness about the use of masks by movie stars and guests in cinemas and other places. . Was this a conscious decision?

totally. We did the same thing last year and it was very welcome because people felt safe. We do not take risks because we have a much larger number of people than last year. I was not in Cannes, so I can not talk about it. We were choosing movies and so I could not go to Cannes. But I heard rumors that there were less strict protocols.

Have you ever been positive at the Quidd test?

Not as far as I know. Today [دوشنبه] The information is updated, I think there were two positive tests but after the second test it turned out that the result was wrong. The situation is completely under control and according to our research, 90% of the official guests have been fully vaccinated.

Can you introduce a film that will surprise everyone in the continuation of the festival?

Eric Matthew’s Filipino film “At Work: Lost 8” will be a surprise to the audience, which will be shown on Friday, and on the same day, “The Last Duel” by Ridley Scott will be released, and both films will be very They are long. Don’t forget Gabriel Minty’s “Freaks out.”

Last year, you were appointed director of the Venice Film Festival for another four years. What would you like to achieve in the next three seasons of the festival?

This has been a long project and we started working 10 years ago and we wanted to reconstruct the face of the festival and we have somehow succeeded in doing so. In the next three years, we must unite and make some changes. As the demand for the festival increases, we want to open two new halls that will be ready for the next season.