The American filmmaker Veteran Gus Van Sant will receive the Campari Passion for Film Award at Venice Film Festival this year.
The award ceremony will take place on September 2 in the Sala Grande, just before a screening of its latest film Thread of the dead manwhich hatches competition.
The film features Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery, Colman Domingo, Cary Elwes, Myha’la and Al Pacino. The film was written by Austin Kolodney and produced by Eleved.
The film tells the story of Anthony G. “Tony” Kiritsis, a former real estate developer who, in 1977, took a mortgage banker hostage in a downtown office. Kiritsis, believing that he had been deceived of money, armed himself with a wired sawn hunting rifle to a “change of dead man” around his own neck, demanding apologies of $ 5 million and the immunity of prosecution.
“I am really honored to receive the Passion for Film Prize. My sincere thanks to Campari for this recognition – it means a lot for me,” said Van Sant in a statement. “I am grateful not only of their recognition of my work, but also of their support for one of the major institutions of celebration and exhibition of cinema in the world. It is a privilege to be part of this tradition, and I deeply appreciate the passion they bring to the cinema. ”
In a press release, the chief of Venice Alberto Barbera described Van Sant as a “unique filmmaker in the landscape of contemporary cinema, which combines a deeply independent perspective with a remarkable ability to connect with the public.”
“His cinema moves freely between the Hollywood system and the circuits of test cinemaCommit to the rules of the industry without ever being forced by them, and remain faithful to a daring and constantly evolving personal vision, “said Barbera.
“He made films that left a lasting brand on the collective imagination, of Pharmacy cowboy has My own private IdahoSince Elephant has MilkInterpret and anticipate the anxieties of several generations. Discovery of talents, he launched actors such as River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, Casey Affleck, Joaquin Phoenix, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. His filmography alternates minimalism and classical narration, queer cinema and political story, moving effortlessly in painting, photography and music too. Forty years after his first feature film, Van Sant remains a fully active artist, constantly capable of reinventing himself, as shown in his latest remarkable film Thread of the dead man».
Venice takes place from August 27 to September 6.
