ITALY: THE GIFFONI FILM FESTIVAL IS ONE WITH A DIFFERENCE AS FILMS ON COMPETITION ARE JUDGED BY CHILDREN

Record ID: 392198

  • Title: ITALY: THE GIFFONI FILM FESTIVAL IS ONE WITH A DIFFERENCE AS FILMS ON COMPETITION ARE JUDGED BY CHILDREN
  • Date: 20th July 2001
  • Summary: GIFFONI, SOUTHERN ITALY (JULY 20-21, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) WIDE OF OPENAIR CINEMA NIGHTTIME GV OF GIFFONI
  • Embargoed: 4th August 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: GIFFONI, SOUTHERN ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVA3KL99LM2GKD50E39AYBGFU3F7
  • Story Text: British film , 'There's only one Jimmy Grimble' scooped the top honours at the Giffoni film festival held last weekend in southern Italy. The festival is one with a difference, not only are the films in competition judged by children aged between eight and nineteen, but the young participants get the chance to hold discussion groups with some of the best known names in film.
    Founded in 1970 by Claudio Gubutosi, the Giffoni Film Festival was the first of its kind not only as it centered around children's' film, but young people themselves came from all over Italy and the world to be the jury members, taking part in a wide range of activities such as masterclasses and discussion groups.
    This festival is not an opportunity for stars and studios to promote their films, rather it is concerned with encouraging young people to learn about and become involved with film.
    Set in the quiet town of Giffoni Valle Diana in southern Italy, when the festival began there were no main roads leading to the town, no hotels or restaurants and no conference facilities. Despite this, the festival has became a huge success and today attracts major players from the international film world.
    This year Oliver Stone, having been invited for many years, finally found the time to pay a visit to the festival.
    Inviting a director like Stone is typical of Giffoni, allowing the children taking part to interact with challenging and controversial artists rather than feeding them a diet of Disney.
    In the competitive sections of the festival, Rear Window (15-19 year olds), Early Screens (8-11 year olds) and the section Free to Fly (12-14 year olds), the awards went to two American films, 'Around the Fire' and 'Race to Space' and one British film, 'There's Only One Jimmy Grimble' respectively.
    Other entries included films from Greece, Poland, Russia, Spain and Australia, many of them made on small budgets and with unconventional themes and storylines.
    Also appearing at the festival was Jamie Bell, star of Billy Elliot who found that the festival made a pleasant change from the norm, being attended by people of his own age group.
    Another highlight of the festival was the European premiere of Jurassic Park 3, which is set to be one of this summer's smash-hit movies.
    --
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