Tanna

Tanna

The audience award Premio del Pubblico Pietro Barzisa – 30. Settimana Internazionale della Critica for the best film of the 30th Venice International Film Critics' Week, an independent section within the 72. Venice International Film Festival, goes to Tanna by Bentley Dean and Martin Butler.

Set amidst the unspoilt landscapes of the Vanuatu archipelago in the South Pacific, the film is a vibrant and eccentric melodrama that tells the story of the forbidden love between Wawa and Dain, a sort of a "Romeo and Juliet" of the Tanna island, who are forced to choose among the reasons of the heart and the future of their tribe, the Yakel.

The price consisting of 5,000€ will be awarded today, Friday 11th of September in the Italian Pavilion – Salone Tropicana of the Hotel Excelsior at 5pm. The award will be given to directors Bentley Dean and Martin Butler.

The members of the delegation of the closing film, Bagnoli Jungle by Antonio Capuano will also be present at the award ceremony.

We take this occasion to also announce the two awards that the Fedeora (Federation of Film Critics of Europe and the Mediterranean) jury – composed by Dubravka Lakic (President), Rita Di Santo, Nenad Dukic and James Evans - allocates to the films of the Venice International Film Critics' Week:

Best Film: Kalo Pothi – The Black Hen by Min Bahadur Bham.

It's a splendid, little movie. A warm-hearted and affectionate tribute to a people who survive with tenacity and imagination.

Best DoP: Bentley Dean for the film Tanna

The eye behind 'Tanna" captures the subtleties and complexities of a culture under threat and provides the audience with a clear vision of that world.