Bergamo, Auditorium di Piazza della Libertà
 

Štarter by Péter Dóczé (Hungary, 2022) wins the Ermanno Olmi Award,
an event aiming to promote short films by young directors.
 

The short film Štarter by Péter Dóczé (Hungary, 2022) wins the fourth Edition of the Ermanno Olmi Award, an event aiming to promote short films by young directors.
Second place goes to Things Unheard Of by Ramazan Kılıç (Turkey, 2023) and third place to The Passing of Time by Nathan Le Graciet (France, 2022). 
The special mention for the most significant work concerning “The Human Being and Time”, a reflection on the relationship of the human being with time, a theme that Ermanno Olmi explored in various aspects throughout his film production goes to Busan, 1999 by Thomas Percy Kim (USA, Republic of Korea, 2022).

The first three classified films - almost 100 entries from Germany, Spain, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Hungary, Turkey, the Republic of Korea and Poland, among others, and a substantial Italian representative - received a cash prize of €1,200, €600 and €400, respectively, while the special mention received a cash prize worth €300 offered by FIC - Federazione Italiana Cineforum.

Congratulations for the winners who won big, 30 euro no deposit bonus.

The jury - composed by Luigi Musini (film producer), Lorenzo Rossi (researcher and editor of Cineforum magazine), Omar Pesenti (director and screenwriter), Giada Mazzoleni (film producer and teacher) and Giorgia Goi (producer and distributor) - awarded Štarter: «A valuable story that addresses a socially relevant topic told through the eyes of children: a perfectly constructed short film that demonstrates mastery of the cinematic device». Things Unheard Of wins second place: «A short film that reveals a solid cinematic instinct and addresses relevant themes with an important - and universal - message of resistance in sharing». The Passing of Time takes home the third prize: «A film that stands out for its conscious direction, both in the use of the handheld camera - which allows maximum adherence to the characters - and in the choice of black and white, which enhances the poetic dimension of the story».
The jury also awarded a special mention to Busan, 1999 with the following motivation: «A well-calibrated narrative, with two very intense characters who effectively represent the poignant challenge that time represents for human beings, and the unbreakable bond that binds us to our birthplaces and the people to whom we owe our lives».

The event featured a screening of the four finalist films and a tribute to Ermanno Olmi with a screening of his short film Dialogo tra un venditore di almanacchi e un passeggiere (Italy, 1954), conserved and restored by CSC - Archivio Nazionale Cinema Impresa (Ivrea), courtesy of Edison, and the Bergamo premiere of the docufilm Il primo sguardo (2009) by Marco Manzoni.

Nadia Ghisalberti, Councillor for Culture of the Municipality of Bergamo, says: «The Ermanno Olmi Award is a cherished initiative by the municipal administration of Bergamo, which decided to honour the late master of cinema with an annual event. The event enacts the intent of promoting and supporting the artistic creations of the new generations of filmmakers. The event is sponsored by the City of Bergamo, and every year it relies on the cooperation of the Olmi family, various local film culture associations and a jury (renewed every year) made up of experts in the field. In these five years, the contest has attracted filmmakers worldwide, and the selection of short films has stood out for its quality and originality. The final evening, free and open to the public, is a chance to watch the finalist works, meet the authors and guests, and revisit or discover Ermanno Olmi’s movies for the first time on the big screen. This year’s winners of the three prizes and the special mention of the jury are a remarkable example of the international nature of the Award and the diversity of themes and perspectives that contemporary cinema invites us to explore».
 

The Ermanno Olmi Award is promoted by the City of Bergamo with the support of Bergamo Film Meeting Onlus and in collaboration with FIC - Federazione Italiana Cineforum.
In accord with the Minimum Environmental Criteria - parameters of environmental sustainability for cultural events - signed by the Municipality of Bergamo, the Prize takes part in the European Green Fest project: a commitment to both environment and culture, and a fitting tribute to Ermanno Olmi, who, through his works, was always a keen supporter of environmental preservation.
Bergamo Brescia Italian Capital of Culture 2023 sees Intesa Sanpaolo and A2A as Main Partner, Brembo as System Partner, Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane and SACBO as Area Partners. The Ministry of Culture and Regione Lombardia are institutional partners together with Fondazione Cariplo, Fondazione della Comunità Bresciana and Fondazione della Comunità Bergamasca.