Arsalan Amiri’s Zalava tops Venice International Film Critics’ Week

09/10/2021 – VENICE 2021: minor distinctions were awarded to European (co)productions, in particular Erase Frank, They carry death and Detours

It’s the end of Venice 2021 International Film Critics Weekan independent and parallel section organized by the National Union of Italian Film Critics (SNCCI) as an integral part of the Venice International Film Festival. This year’s edition saw the triumph of Arsalan Amirithe first feature film by Zalava, an Iranian film set in the titular small village in 1978, in which the villagers claim that a demon is among them. The film received the Grand Prix of the International Week of Film Critics as well as the FIPRESCI Prize dedicated to the section.

In their accompanying statement, the jurors Claudio Cupellini, Vanja Kaludjercic and Sandrine Marques praised the director’s “new talent” as well as his “playful cinematic language” and his clear appeal against “superstition and ignorance”.

Several minor distinctions were awarded to other European productions and co-productions. In detail, the Verona Film Club Prize was awarded to Gabor Fabricius‘ odyssey of “political psychiatry” Erase Frank [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Gábor Fabricius
film profile]the prize for the best technical contribution to Helena Giron and Samuel M. DelgadoThe Spanish-Colombian co-production of They carry death [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Samuel M Delgado and Helena…
film profile] and the all-new Special Filmmakers Under 40 Award (created in honor of the late documentary filmmaker Valentina Pedicini) for Ekaterina Selenkinait’s Detours [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]. Ultimately, Gianluca Matarreseit’s The last chapter [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Gianluca Matarrese
film profile] won the Queer Lion award.

Here is the list of rewards:

International Film Critics Week Grand Prize
Zalava- Arsalan Amiri (Iran)

Verona Cine Club Award
Erase Frank [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Gábor Fabricius
film profile] – Gabor Fabricius (Hungary)

Mario Serandrei – Hotel Saturnia Award for Best Technical Contribution
They carry death [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Samuel M Delgado and Helena…
film profile] – Helena Girón and Samuel M. Delgado (Spain/Colombia)

Short films

Best Short Film Award
Inchei – Federico Demattè (Italy)

Best Director Award
Federico Dematté – Inchei

Best Technical Contribution Award
the incanto – Chiara Caterina (Italy)

(For more information on parallel rewards, click here.)