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In 2025 the VPB Focuses will be the United Kingdom, supported by British Film Institute; Chile, supported by Ministerio de las Culturas, las Artes y el Patrimonio, Gobierno de Chile; and Morocco, supported by Centre Cinématographique Marocain.
The selection is divided as follows:
· 40 feature-length Fiction Film and Documentary projects
(incl. 11 VPB Focus projects)
· 14 Immersive projects (incl. 3 VPB Focus projects)
· 10 Biennale College Cinema - Immersive projects
· 3 Biennale College Cinema projects
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The legendary American actress Kim Novak (Vertigo, Picnic, Bell, Book and Candle) has been awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival of La Biennale di Venezia (August 27 – September 6, 2025).
The decision was made by the Board of Directors of La Biennale, upon recommendation of the Artistic Director of the Festival, Alberto Barbera.
Kim Novak in accepting the offer, declared: “I am deeply, deeply touched to receive the prestigious Golden Lion Award from such an enormously respected film festival. To be recognized for my body of work at this time in my life is a dream come true. I will treasure every moment I spend in Venice. It will fill my heart with joy.”
With regard to the award to Kim Novak, Festival’s Artistic Director Alberto Barbera declared: “Inadvertently becoming a screen legend, Kim Novak was one of the most beloved icons of an entire era of Hollywood films, from her auspicious debut during the mid-1950s until her premature and voluntary exile from the gilded cage of Los Angeles a short while later. She never refrained from criticizing the studio system, choosing her roles, who she let into her private life and even her name. Forced to renounce her given name, Marilyn Pauline, because it was associated with Monroe, she fought to conserve her last name, agreeing, in exchange, to dye her hair that shade of platinum blonde which set her apart. Independent and nonconformist, she created her own production company and went on strike to renegotiate a salary that was much lower than that of her male co-stars. Thanks to her exuberant beauty; her ability to bring to life characters who were naïve and discreet, as well as sensuous and tormented; and her seductive and sometimes sorrowful gaze, she was appreciated by some of the major American directors of the period, from Billy Wilder (Kiss me, Stupid), to Otto Preminger (The Man With the Golden Arm), Robert Aldrich (The Legend of Lylah Clare), George Sidney (The Eddy Duchin Story, Jeanne Eagels, Pal Joey), and Richard Quine, with whom she made unforgettable romantic comedies (Pushover, Bell Book and Candle, Strangers When We Meet, The Notorious Landlady). But her image will remain forever linked to the dual characters she played in Hitchcock’s Vertigo, which became the role of her life. This Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement celebrates a star who was emancipated, a rebel at the heart of Hollywood who illuminated the dreams of movie lovers before retiring to her ranch in Oregon to dedicate herself to painting and to her horses.”
On this occasion, the documentary Kim Novak’s Vertigo by Alexandre Philippe, made in exclusive collaboration with the actress, will be presented in its world premiere screening.
Kim Novak – Biographical notes
Kim Novak, the last of the great glamorous movie stars of the golden era, who was the No. 1 box office star in the world in ’58, ‘59’ and ’60, lives on today as a happy legend, poet, and artist. Despite her glamourous looks, few people realize that Novak was the first woman to start her own production company in 1958. She knew that’s where the control was, and she wasn’t interested in being a “puppet” for Columbia’s Harry Cohn. Cohn said he “manufactured Novak in order to make Rita Hayworth nervous.” No star can be m 
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Lucy Liu to Receive Career Achievement Award and Present International Premiere of “Rosemead” at Locarno78
Widely celebrated for her iconic performances across film, television, and stage, Lucy Liu will be honored with the prestigious Career Achievement Award at the Locarno Film Festival on Thursday, August 14, 2025. Following the award ceremony, Liu will present the international premiere of Rosemead (2025), directed by Eric Lin, alongside the film’s cast and crew on the Piazza Grande. The following day, she will engage in a public discussion with the festival audienc
 Admired for her groundbreaking collaborations with Stanley Kubrick, Hugh Hudson, Wes Anderson, Sofia Coppola, Warren Beatty, Alan Parker, Louis Malle, and countless others, the renowned Italian costume designer will be honored with the Vision Award, presented by Ticinomoda, at Locarno78, on the night of Sunday, August 10, 2025. During the Festival she will also introduce her most recent collaboration with Francis Ford Coppola, the monumental Megalopolis (2024).
Since making her debut as a costume designer on Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange (1971), Milena Canonero has produced some of the most visionary costumes in film history and has shaped our collective imagination through the clothes we see on screen, using colorful fabrics and innovative cuts to draw out the essential natures of some of the most recognizable cinematic creations.
Take the Jazz Age tuxedos and gowns of Francis Ford Coppola’s The Cotton Club (1984), the pre-revolutionary aristocratic ruffles in Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette (2006), Tilda Swinton’s elaborate, Klimt-like costumes in Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), or the stylish dark looks of Catherine Deneuve and Davie Bowie in Tony Scott’s horror film The Hunger (1983). Or take Warren Beatty’s magnificently colorful Dick Tracy (1990), the memorable outfits of Sidney Pollack’s Out of Africa (1986), the western get-ups of Jacques Audiard’s The Sisters Brothers (2018), the iconic costumes of Kubrick’s The Shining (1980) ... Or indeed, most recently, her interpretation of a postmodern Roman style in Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis (2024) and her sixth collaboration with Wes Anderson on the ‘50s-set spy film The Phoenician Scheme (2025). From any of these titles, anyone can name a favorite design by Canonero, a testament to just how tightly her legacy is woven into the fabric of film history.
For her work, Canonero has been awarded four Academy Awards for Best Costume Design – for Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon (1975), Hugh Hudson’s Chariots of Fire (1981), Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, and Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel – three BAFTAs, three Costume Designers Guild Awards, the Honorary Golden Bear at the Berlinale, and various others. Her interests and talent extend beyond costumes, having designed the sets as well as costumes for Barbet Schroeder’s Single White Female (1992) and Roman Polanski’s stage play of Amadeus (1999). Canonero has also directed some shorts and commercials.
Canonero has worked on opera staged at the Metropolitan Opera House, the Vienna State Opera, La Scala, the Paris Opera Garnier, and other major opera houses. She was Associate Producer on Good Morning Babylon (1987) by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani and produced two movies with Elda Ferri, a well-known Italian producer: Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You (2011) and Hill of Vision (2022), the incredible story of Nobel Laureate Mario Capecchi. But it is her experience of having collaborated on three of Stanley Kubrick’s movies that most definitively shaped her into who she has become.
Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director of the Locarno Film Festival: “Milena Canonero is a giant of the cinema and art of our times. Like a Renaissance artist, she has combined the profound wisdom of craftsmanship with the potential of cinema, thus opening infinite spaces for human
Former editor of CE Pro brings deep industry expertise and formidable content skills to fast-growing global full-service marketing and PR agency.
RISE Media Strategy announces the appointment of Arlen Schweiger as Director of Content. This strategic addition to the RISE team underscores the company’s commitment to delivering top-tier content, marketing, and PR services to its esteemed roster of clients in the residential and commercial AV industry, including manufacturers, service providers, associations, and integrators.
Arlen brings nearly two decades of experience in the AV industry, with a comprehensive background that spans residential, commercial, and consumer sectors. His most recent role as Editor-in-Chief of CE Pro magazine, along with his previous editorial positions at Commercial Integrator, Security Sales & Integration, and Electronic House, have cemented his reputation as a leader in content creation, known for his expertise, writing prowess, and deep industry knowledge. Arlen is also located in North Carolina, near RISE’s Asheville, North Carolina, headquarters.
"To keep apace with RISE's fast growth, we needed an undisputed rock star to join our team, someone who is not only prolific, with the capability to produce a demanding amount of A+ content, but who is extremely well connected and knows the intricacies of the AV industry like no other, having researched, reported on, and even shaped its course over decades,” says Krissy Rushing Tomlin, CEO and co-founder of RISE.
In his new role, Arlen will spearhead RISE's content strategy, overseeing the production of diverse content, including blogs, press releases, and case studies, as well as directing RISE’s search initiatives, including the new frontiers of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) to the benefit of RISE clients.
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Arlen will also focus on building and nurturing media relationships, expanding RISE's presence in international media as the company grows its global client base. Additionally, Arlen will develop content distribution pathways to reach architects, designers, and builders for RISE’s integrator clients and design-forward brands.
“I’m incredibly thrilled and grateful to Krissy and Jayson [Tomlin] for giving me this opportunity to help drive their major growth plans,” Arlen says. “Taking on a new and different role in this dynamic industry is an exciting challenge. I’m eager to jump back into the AV channel and deliver highly engaging and effective content for RISE’s wide-ranging clientele.”
Glamour, goose bumps, and grand emotions: Matthias Schweighöfer and Christoph Maria Herbst thrill audiences at the Munich International Film Festival
Camera flashes lit up the Isar Carpet at the 42nd Munich International Film Festival as Matthias Schweighöfer and Christoph Maria Herbst met excited fans at the world premieres of their latest productions. Introduced to full houses by these popular German actors, these two films are worlds apart, yet are equally capable of getting under one’s skin.
Two films, worlds apart: an unforgettable evening
“ Ganzer halber Bruder” (directed by Hanno Olderdissen, screenplay by Clemente Fernandez-Gil) is a heartwarming and humorous tale of a clash between two brothers. A hardened real-estate shark (Herbst), fresh out of prison, wants to sell a house he’s inherited — but his brother, who has Down’s syndrome, refuses to be driven out of it. A moving story about family ties, responsibility, and having the courage to change one’s ways.
“ Brick” (Netflix Original, written & directed by Philip Koch), on the other hand, is a highly suspenseful thriller. Tim (Schweighöfer) and Olivia (Ruby O. Fee) find that they are trapped inside their building by a mysterious wall that has suddenly surrounded it. Solving the mystery will enable their escape – but unleash an even greater threat. Eerily suspenseful.
A time at the movies like no other awaits you throughout Munich until Sunday
Avid moviegoers have a lot to look forward to this weekend, as a number of celebrity guests from film and television will be present at the screenings. Andrea Sawatzki and Christian Berkel will present the premiere of “ Being Famous for Beginners”, while Noah Saavedra and Svenja Jung, among others, are expected to attend the world premiere of “ naked”. Particularly of note is the FilmTalk with director Christian Petzold at the festival center at the Amerikahaus on Saturday.
The Netherlands Film Festival (NFF) announces the third generation of Fellows. Luna Maurer, Nirit Peled, and Matthew C. Wilson will work on their research into new technologies and storytelling.
This new group of Fellows concludes the three-year trajectory of the Digital Culture Fellowship Programme, initiated by the NFF in collaboration with numerous partner organizations. The research programme fosters the professional growth of participants from fields including science, visual arts, film, gaming, design, and other forms of visual culture, encouraging innovation at the intersection of society and technology.
Paulien Dresscher, NFF Digital Culture Programmer:
"Technological developments are moving faster than ever, and their impact on society is enormous. It's fantastic that through the Fellowship Programme we can provide space for makers who conduct artistic research into these developments, raising poetic or pressing questions about the times we live in."
Biographies and Research Proposals
Luna Maurer
Luna Maurer is a mixed media designer and artist, teacher, and author, focusing on the impact of digital technologies on everyday life. She explores human qualities through installations, performances, web experiences, and films, blending digital and physical elements. In 2012, she co-founded Studio Moniker, which shares a similar focus. In 2024, she won the Golden Calf for Best Digital Culture Production for her work Emoticons Don’t Have Wrinkles.
During her Fellowship research, Luna Maurer will explore what happens when she has an AI companion as a dance partner. It’s not a digital twin or virtual dancer, but an AI system that interprets, responds to, and challenges her movements—enabling a mutual dialogue. She investigates whether physical expression can be a way to create new narratives with a non-human entity: What happens when a human dancer and a machine truly engage in "conversation" through movement?
Nirit Peled
Nirit Peled is a multidisciplinary artist and independent filmmaker whose work explores the intersection of narrative, power, and technology across media. Educated as an artist at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy (VAV-moving image) and as a designer at the Sandberg Institute, her practice moves fluidly between visual art, research-based documentary, text, and public engagement.
Peled’s work is grounded in storytelling. Whether through film, photography, installation or performance, she investigates societal structures—both intimate and institutional—with a distinct sensitivity to the political, cultural and emotional layers that shape them. Her early artistic explorations took the form of live video performances (VJ-ing), graphic design, and spatial video installations.
In her research, Nirit Peled will delve into memory and forgetting in the digital age. She investigates how our personal and collective memories are influenced by digital data and storage technologies, asking: What happens when nothing is forgotten, and everything is stored?
Matthew C. Wilson
Matthew C. Wilson is a filmmaker, artist, researcher, writer, and occasional curator. In his videos, sculptures, and installations, audiences encounter a variety of agents—commercial materials, non-humans, characters, and inter-subjective entities—entangled with natural processes and shape-shifting historical forces. His projects employ research-driven, context-specific, and methodologically eclectic approaches to trace the historical inertia of modernity through current technolo
Sponsored by the City of Palm Springs, this 31st edition welcomed audiences at the Festival Theaters from June 24-30, 2025. In all, the festival screened 51 curated programs showcasing 311 films from 64 countries and territories, including 45 World Premieres, 10 International Premieres, 36 North American Premieres, 19 U.S. Premieres., and 94 California Premieres. More than 6,200 short films from 141 countries and territories were submitted.
“Brimming with inspired storytellers and experimentation, this year’s ShortFest once again promises short films which push boundaries, spark conversations, and entertain audiences,” said Lili Rodriguez, Artistic Director of the Palm Springs International Film Society. “As we mark our 31st year, we embrace the fresh voices shaping the future of this industry, the short form which continues to elevate the medium of moviemaking to new heights. We’re thrilled to bring these stories to our passionate Palm Springs community and to welcome filmmakers from across the world to the Coachella Valley.”
Short films featuring celebrated film and television actors include Aria starring Pauline Chalamet; BDAY Private Dick starring John C. Reilly and Nick Thune; Blood Boys starring Booboo Stewart; Cattywampus starring Hamish Linklater and John Carroll Lynch; Dragfox starring Ian McKellen and Divina De Campo; Dust to Dust starring Tess Goldwyn; Fireline starring Bobby Soto and Fabian Alomar; Good Boy Banjo starring Albert Birney and Shirley Chen; Hatchlings starring Demi Singelton; Heaven is Nobody’s starring Roger Guenveur Smith; How Was Your Weekend? starring James Morosini and Rachael Harris; I Want To Feel Fun starring Esther Povitsky and Simon Rex; Interloper starring Chloe East and Ryan Simpkins; Little One starring Lucy Walters; Learning How to Drive with Alicia Silverstone; Main Man starring Haley Joel Osment, Finn Wittrock, and Jenny Yang; Matilda and the Brave Escape starring Bella Ramsey; Max Distance starring John Daly; Melody of Love starring Jane Levy and John Reynolds; Moon Lake directed by Jeannie Sui Wonders and starring Chase Sui Wonders; No Experience Necessary starring Michael Graceffa; Petra and the Sun starring Fernando Solís Lara; Retirement Plan starring Domhnall Gleeson; Rhoda starring Emma D’Arcy; She Raised Me starring Rosie O’Donnell; Sleazy Tiger starring Alan Cumming; Tape Worm starring CJ Beckford and Antonia Campbell-Hughes; Tanning Zone directed by Chloe East; Thanks for Having Me starring Caleb Hearon, Johnny Berchtold and Ryan Simpkins; The Errand directed by Hayley Marie Norman and starring Vanessa Chester; The Last Cinnamon Roll starring Reggie Watts; The Yellow starring Haley Joel Osmont and Marin Hinkle; Three Keenings starring Seamus O'Hara; What Freedom starring Ashley Park; What’s the Deal with Birds? starring Chris Pine and Kimia Behpoornia; Where We Came From starring Archie Panjabi; and You Know You Wanna Stay starring Elsie Fisher.
In addition to short films, ShortFest spotlighted the Hulu drama Paradise, created by Dan Fogelman and starring Sterling K. Brown. Award-winning writer, director, and ShortFest alum Hanelle M. Culpepper attended the screening of episode "You Asked for Miracles," which she directed. Culpepper attended ShortFest in 2003 with her shorts A Single Roseand Six and the City. Her diverse w |
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