Three Columbia Films to Screen at Venice Film Festival 2020
The oldest film festival in the world, the Venice International Film Festival, returns for its 77th edition from September 2 to September 12, 2020 with three Columbia films in its lineup.
Crazy, Not Insane, a feature documentary for which alumna Ophelia Harutyunyan '15 served as Producer, alumnus Eric Schuman '17 as Co-Editor, alumna Annamarie Fernandez '17 as Associate Producer, alumnus Mahak Jiwani '18 as Assistant to the Director and Writing alumna Shea Sweeney '19 as Production Assistant, will premiere at the festival in the Out Of Competition nonfiction program.
Crazy, Not Insane by director Alex Gibney is a feature-length examination of the research by forensic psychiatrist Dorothy Otnow Lewis who investigated the psychology of murderers. The film was originally scheduled to have its world premiere at this year’s SXSW festival which was cancelled due to COVID-19. It will be distributed by HBO.
Anita, a short film written and directed by current student Sushma Khadepaun and co-produced by alumna Sasha John '17 will show as part of the Orizzonti Short Film Competition.
In Anita, an expat wife dreams of taking up a job and coaxes her husband to talk to her father about it. Khadepaun has recently received an SFFILM Westridge Grant.
Entre tú y Milagros, directed by alumna Mariana Saffon '19, written by Saffon and alumna Nathalie Álvarez Mesén '19, and produced by Saffon and current student Jorge Granados Ross will also screen as part of the Orizzonti Short Film Competition.
Saffon’s film Entre tú y Milagros follows Milagros, whose world at 15 still revolves around her mother's affection. An unexpected encounter with death will make her question their relationship, her privilege and her own existence.
The 77th Venice International Film Festival is organised by La Biennale di Venezia and directed by Alberto Barbera. The Festival is officially recognised by the FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Association). The aim of the Festival is to raise awareness and promote international cinema in all its forms as art, entertainment and as an industry, in a spirit of freedom and dialogue. The Festival also organizes retrospectives and tributes to major figures as a contribution towards a better understanding of the history of cinema.
Columbia filmmakers have had much success at the Venice Film Festival. Just last year, Darling, directed and co-written by current student Saim Sadiq, co-written by current student Rodney Llaverias, co-produced by current student Jasmin Tenucci, and produced by alumna Mahak Jiwani ’18 won the Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film.