Biennale College Cinema 2024, interview with head of program Savina Neirotti

FRED Film Radio met Savina Neirotti, head of program of the Biennale College Cinema to talk about the 2024 edition and the future of the high-level training, research and experimentation laboratory for the development and production of micro-budget feature films. The films produced this year are “My Birthday“ by Christian Filippi, “Honeymoon“ by Zhanna Ozirna, “The Fisherman“ by Zoey Martinson and “January 2“ by Zsófia Szilágyi.

A selecion to explore different voices and genders

Three female directors over 4 films this year. What kind of signal is that in an edition of Venice Film Festival rich of movies directed by women? “From the beginning, we have been very careful at making sure that we would have a lot of female directors. So I think for initiatives like ours, where we are both a development college but also a funding body in a way, it is very important that we guarantee equal access. It is part of the rules of the Biennale College that among the four final films there are two female directors. We have set it as a rule. I think there are incredible projects, you just have to look out for them as much as you have to look out for different nationalities, different voices. And I think our selection also represents how you can really explore different genres, different voices and, of course, different genders”.

A community atmosphere

Four very different films, in genre, tone and atmosphere. What makes Savina Neirotti proud of the work done so far? “I think what I’m more proud of having been the person who has ideated the College is that we have created a community atmosphere, sort of a real group of people. And it’s not only the films that are produced but also the films that might be produced in the future years. What I’m more proud of is this difference of voices but people working together. Because when you have teams like this with different films, working in the same room and discussing night and day, you create something, so each one of them keeps their individual voice. But they nurture themselves and they are different, the first audiences from each other’s films”.

The future of Biennale College Cinema

Twelve years of Biennale College, but how Savina Neirotti sees its future? “Well, I see that it’s still functioning as a model, and it does work. This is not a manifesto, it has never been, meaning Biennale College is an opportunity among many others. It’s not the only way to do film, it doesn’t mean that you should only make micro-budget features. The new president actually talked about the initiative as something that he wants to continue, so I’m actually very happy. I think the future will be to continue in this path”.