Film presentation

In the wide programme of the 56th TrentoFilmfestival, that makes Trento the location of a real Feast of the Mountain, cinema may appear to be just one of the many sections of this event.
In reality, just in the years when the Festival brought a more festive atmosphere to the town, its streets, square and inhabitants, cinema has regained the central position that it may have lost. This is evident by the number of films entered, the number of movie theatres used and mainly by the quality of the films presented.

Apart from the actual contest, some sections now provide an interesting insight into the Festival themes. Let’s think of the “Orizzonti” section, presenting nine documentary films on different subjects ranging from nature to people living in mountain areas but also those concerning climate, the exploitation of energy and the resulting impact on the environment: over the years, all these issues have broadened the concept of exploration and adventure in a world that is getting smaller and smaller and more and more at risk. This year the new “Vitalpina” section was added, presenting some documentary films about life on the Alps, the daily work and difficulties of people living in the mountains all year.

And in the end, the consolidated “Alp&ism” section regarding the mountains and those who occasionally enjoy it to practice different sports, from mountaineering - that has certainly the merit of having rediscovered  the mountain world - to all the other sports satisfying the desire for entertainment and challenges, characterising leisure time not only of town people but also those living in the limited alpine areas which that have become a sort of “playground”, namely the Playground of Europe of Leslie Stephen. We just need to look at the contest to realise the central position of cinema in this International Festival of Mountain Film, renamed in its shortened form, TrentoFilmfestival: 34 films in contest, including 14 full-length films, 9 short films and 11 medium-length films.

But the surprise this year is the presence of 12 mountaineering films. We have always talked of a crisis in mountaineering films due to lack of ideas or financial support and the predominance of documentaries about important feats made by mountaineers, who did not have the faintest idea of what cinema was. Well, this year we have seen a significant number of excellent films about mountaineering, presented in different ways: the first, as a form of entertainment and with the joy of climbing in extreme difficulties; the second, strictly connected to risk and death in the mountains.

The cinematographic appeal of death does not only concern mountain cinema, but is present in all genres of cinema except comedy. But the success achieved, even in the Italian cinema theatres, by films such as Touching the Void shows the morbid taste for tragedy in the mountains of those who do not  practice mountaineering. However, the people who experience these risks have a different perception and some of the films in contest present this topic in an original way. This year 330 films have been selected, a greater and greater number which has made the director not only proud but also concerned for the burdensome task of having to deal with a huge amount of work. With the support of some consultants the film festival direction board selected 79 films, including those in the contest and those that are ineligible to compete.

The high number of films means that TrentoFilmfestival is also a successful event in the cinema world of its genre for its scouting work, not only among specialised festivals but also in general festivals where the documentary is being given wider consideration. Since its first appearance in 1952, TrentoFilmfestival has dedicated space to the documentary genre, even when, in the framework of Italian cinematography, it had been isolated.

This is demonstrated by the presence in its Palmares of famous names of the Italian history of cinema, and not just Italian. In recent years these Maestri have received Career Awards; this year it will be received by Folco Quilici. In recent years the same award has also been given to Bruno Bozzetto, Luciano Emmer and Vittorio De Seta. A cinematographic tradition that continues.

Augusto Golin
In charge of the Cinematographic Screening