The River Film Festival awards ceremony took place on the steps of the portello on Saturday, June 21.

The jury that climbed onto the floating screen to award the Golden River consisted this year of President Daniela Weber (Berlinale), Desmond Hui (Hang Seng University Hong Kong), Benjamin Seide (NTU University Singapore), Carla Vulpiani (Venice Biennale), and Daniela Lucato (director).

Desmond Hui – Justice Bao – Cinema schools

Justice Bao develops its narrative from a well-known legend of Bao Kung which beautifully weaves between tradition and the heritage art of Beijing opera with the modern day context of socialist China: putting the tradition of wisdom and culture and contemporary pursuit of rational law and justice in tension. The short film is skillfully presented with a well-orchestrated rythm of sound and images – a wonderful treat in the film school category of the festival.

Carla Vulpiani – HARDCORE –  Italian Gazes

A quirky and funny situation managed within a surreal comedy that doesn’t misses to play with the cliches of Italian cinema but carried with a solid and serious-toned acting performance that lifts the story up to bittersweet realism. The Award of Italian Gaze’s category goes to Hardcore by Francesco Barozzi

Daniela Weber for Last Sunday In May – International Horizons

The grown up protagonist’s memories on his way to his mother, take us back to his childhood on that one Last Sunday in May. What is seemingly a bright and happy family, soon turns out to be a toxic relationship between his parents, silently observed by their 10yo son Jean. 

The film convinced us through its tender and even humorous narration, accompanied by a distant yet sharp camera – just like the watching and understanding eyes of Jean. Built on a supposingly soft but more and more tense dramaturgy, we are witnesses of the unveiling of betrayal, violence and hate – without losing the sense of love.

Daniela Lucato – Burning Away – Queer/LGBTQIA+

Burning Away is a poignant and visually striking short film that offers an intimate portrait of a young generation navigating identity, desire, and mental health in a rapidly. shifting world. With subtlety and emotional depth, director Roman Lepage explores themes of sex fluidity and queer identity, presenting them not as issues to be explained, but as lived experiences, full of complexity and tenderness.Ultimately, Burning Away is a vital reflection of the questions and tensions defining a generation.

Benjamin Seide – Saudade, Perhaps – Animation

A man, inside an old bathtub, thinks, wonders and travels through the memories of his childhood. The film “Saudade, Perhaps” convinced us with its beautifully crafted animation, fluid and dreamlike exploration of the what-ifs as it drifts in and out of hazy, half-remembered moments. Its gentle visual rhythm mirrors the ebb and flow of memory itself, blurring the boundaries between reality and imagination with subtlety.

Daniela for Desmond Hui – Faghan – Documentaries

The selection of the documentaries was not a easy job to do, quite some very strong candidates.  We decided for a work that gives us an insight into female perspectives we haven’t seen so far.  Faghan means in Urdu “cry of pain or distress”. The narration of eight Afghan women (now safe in Italy) takes us into crucial moments, bitter changes of their lives, where they all had settled before the Tablian took over again. Secretly filmed footage illustrates how the courageous escapes took place. What also impressed us, is the fact we have here a real “women’s power film”, in front and behind the camera and in the production team. Strong voices that stand for so many female destinies and which might bring hope.

Carla Vulpiani – Chicken Bones – Anthropocene

For chosing a target that it’s hardly seen on screen, and for highlighting the role and care that our society reserves to the elders by presenting an irreverent character that with her mischievous behavior has not yet surrendered to the monotony they’d want her to be subjugated to, the award for best film in Antrophocene category goes to Chicken Bones by 

Benjamin Seide – Le Singe Bleu – Sci-Fi

Le Singe Bleu draws us into a mysterious, otherworldly realm, immersing the viewer in a hauntingly futuristic atmosphere. The film captivated the jury with its striking juxtaposition of visual minimalism and emotional depth, offering a touching exploration of love, mortality, and the bittersweet pain of farewell. Through its suggestive imagery and layered narrative, it leaves a lasting impression that resonates well beyond the screen.
Here to represent Jennifer Miville we have the protagonist and author Jordan Demartis

Desmond Hui – for the Documentaries special mention – Continuations

Continuaitons by Satoru Okabe documents the beautiful yet painstaking process of renovating the thatched roof of the Japanese Shrine – a product and handicraft of collecting, preparing and laying of hundreds of thousand layers of tree bark for the final meticulous shape and form of the roof – a true record of human ingenuity and efforts in sustainable development and the harmony of architecture and the environment.

Benjamin Seide / The Jury – Honorable mentions

The Game

An honorable mention goes to the student film The Game, which impressed us with its strong performances and skillful cinematic craftsmanship. Its confident direction and polished execution stood out as a testament to emerging talent.

On hold 

An honorable mention goes to the animated short On Hold, which charmed the jury with its simple premise of time melting into a surreal dreamscape while caught in the endless loop of a telephone hold.

We interviewed Marta Nalin, councilor for the municipality of Padua, on the role that RIFF can play for the city of Padua:

As a councilor, Marta Nalin works to implement policies related to social justice, which she considers to be inextricably linked to ecological justice. Projects against gender-based violence and all forms of discrimination have also been central to her work.

HB