Celebrating its twentieth anniversary, the Biografilm Festival, held from 7 – 17 June, epitomises a commitment to the exposition of global diversity through documentary cinema. The 2024 programme bridges the past and the future, unearthing concealed histories while fostering innovative cinematic approaches. Central to the festival’s ethos is the Bio to B market, a place where filmmakers, producers, and decision-makers converge to forge the future trajectories of cinema of the real. For eleven days, Bologna becomes the pulsating heart of Italian and international documentary cinema, offering an immersive space for scholars, practitioners, and cinephiles to engage with the festival’s meticulously curated offerings.
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News
Biografilm celebrates 20 years; announces full 2024 programme
Interview
«We try to be humble lighthouses in the often-chaotic sea of visual content and image saturation»
With its 20th edition kicking off this week, Modern Times Review spoke with Biografilm Artistic Directors Chiara Liberti and Massimo Benvegnu on their roles, documentary inspirations, the festival’s place within a broader continental sphere, and more.
Films
E.1027 - Eileen Gray and the House by the Sea
Director: Beatrice Minger, Christoph Schaub
A tale of architectural brilliance and the female gaze, redefining modernist landscapes through Eileen Gray's story.
Four Daughters
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
An intimate look at the challenges and decisions facing four sisters in Tunisia, shaped by their environment.
Invisible Nation
Director: Vanessa Hope
The democratic spirit of Taiwan and its complex relationship with its powerful neighbour.
Life is Beautiful
Director: Mohamed Jabaly
Living in exile is hard, as we can experience in Mohamed Jabaly's award-winning Life Is Beautiful. Despite the hardships, this film is a feel-good story celebrating solidarity and friendship.
Stray Bodies
Director: Elina Psykou
Elina Psykou's debut feature delves into biopolitics and bodily management, reflecting on Foucault's theory of biopower in Europe.
The Kyiv Files
Director: Walter Stokman
A gripping exploration of Soviet-era paranoia and oppression in Ukraine.
The Monk
Director: Mira Jargil, Christian Sønderby Jepsen
The transformation from renowned HIV researcher to Buddhist monk unveils complexities of solitude, mental health, and familial reconciliation.
Turn in the Wound
Director: Abel Ferrara
Abel Ferrara's idiosyncratic take on the war in Ukraine melds poetic performances by Patti Smith with the experience of people at war.