FRED Film Radio - English Channel

“Honey Don’t”, the second chapter of a B-movie lesbian trilogy directed by Ethan Coen (without his brother Joel) and co-written with the screenwriter and the director’s wife, Tricia Cooke, is a captivating and hilarious homage to 1940s Dashiell Hammett–style detective stories, with Margaret Qualley in the role of an anti–femme fatale.

Coming to Italian movie theaters with Universal Pictures starting September 18th, the film premiered, out of competition, at the 78th Cannes Film Festival.

Blending a classic noir with the lesbian pulp novel

Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke’s  second collabor...

“Newport & The Great Folk Dream”, directed by Robert Gordon, produced by Joe Lauro and presented out of competition at 82nd Venice film Festival, is a documentary made from footage shot in the early 1960s and it could not be more relevant to this 21st century political moment. While making it, they observed the USA trying to turn the world back to the racist and nationalist sentiments of this movie’s early 1960s era. In contrast, they were powerfully moved by the festival’s embrace of diverse cultures, by the exchange of songs and technique between the generations, by the 1960s fight...

Lee Hong-Chi’s latest movie, “A Dance in Vain”, showcased at Venice Critics Week at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, delves into the cityscape of Shanghai to portray a landscape of lost hopes and silent struggles. The film captures the emotional landscape of contemporary urban youth, blending minimalist acting with poetic narrative techniques that evoke both despair and resilience. We talked about the movie with director Lee and actress Cici Wang.

A Portrait of a Changing Shanghai

Set against the backdrop of a city grappling with economic decline, “A Dance in Vain” paints a portrait of Shangha...

Interview during the 82nd edition of Venice International Film Festival with Julian Schnabel, director of the film “In the hand of Dante”, and actor Oscar Isaac. The production, part of the official selection in Venice Film Festival 2025, is based on the book by Nick Tosches that intertwines two temporal lines: one of the author, looking for the original manuscript of “The Divine Comedy”, and a second one that follows Dante himself.

Julian Schnabel’s fascination with Dante stems from the complexity and impossibility of the original book. The director explained that the source material is “one of the craziest...

We met in Venice with Jacopo Chessa, director of the Veneto Film Commission and also president of the Italian Film Commissions Association (IFC). With these two hats, we had a chat on both jobs and the reasons that brought him to the  festival and the Venice Production Bridge.

The agreement between IFC and British Film Commissions

As president of IFC, Jacopo Chessa tells us about the renovation of the agreement between the association and the British Film Commissions. The agreement will be signed at Focus London; the novelty of it lays in the definition of o...

Josh Siegel, film curator at MOMA in New York is one of the members of the first ever jury at Giornate degli Autori. He is happy to be here as he has a great admiration for Gaia Furrer, the director fo Giornate degli Autori , and all her team. We talked about this experience and also about his job as film curator.

The only possible approach to the role of a juror

Josh Siegel is adamant on having an open mind as the only possible approach to the task of judging a film. The open mind...

Emma Barboni, of the Emilia Romagna Film Commission comes to talk with Fred Radio about the participation of her institution at the Venice International Film festival, both for the usual meetings with producers and directors  at the VPB but also to support the films in the festival’s selections that were shot in Emilia Romagna region through the help of her office. One of these films is “The Kidnapping of Arabella” by Carolina Cavalli ,which stands out for its compelling storytelling, impressive visuals, and the region’s strategic role in film production and development.

The film’s unique visu...

An engaging new film, “Director’s Diary”, debuted at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, offering a profound glimpse into both personal memories and collective history. Blending artistic expression with documentary elements, the film presents a compelling portrait of life through the eyes of its creator, capturing the essence of a turbulent era from 1957 to 1991. We met with the director Aleksandr Sokurov,  and the producer Alena Shumakova on the eve of the premiere at the Venice Festival.

A Personal Chronicle Becomes a Cinematic Journey

“Director’s Diary” is based on a handwritten journal kept by the director...

Nidhi Saxena is the director of the film “Secret of a Mountain Serpent”, one of the four films of the Biennale College program,  a compelling reflection on the themes of confinement, cultural identity, and the transformative power of dreams. Premiering at the 82nd Venice Film Festival and starring Adil Hussain, this introspective piece captures the stark realities faced by women living in mountainous regions, juxtaposed with their aspirations and inner strength.

Unveiling the Artistic Vision

“Secret of a Mountain Serpent” delves into the lives of women in isolated mountain communities, where the landscape often feels like a pr...

The documentary “Kim Novak’s Vertigo” offers an intimate portrait of the Hollywood star renowned for her role in Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece, Vertigo. Filmmaker Alexander O. Philippe sheds new light on Kim Novak‘s extraordinary life, revealing personal insights and emphasising her often-overlooked filmography. We have an interesting talk before the Premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

Unveiling Novak’s personal journey

The documentary delves into Novak’s personal life, highlighting her deep connection with director Alexander O. Philippe. According to the filmmaker, their bond evolved quickly, allowing Novak to share candid reflections about her experience...

As happens very year, we are delighted to meet in Venice with Valentina Martelli, founder and CEO of ITTV International Forum & TechInEntertainment, to talk about the development of the event and the key moments to note of the forum that works like a bridge between finance and film industry, including the tech side of it that is  getting more and more substantial and important.

The forum is born to help interactions

Valentina Martelli echoed the importance of quick, meaningful interactions. She highlighted how short, targeted encounters—sometimes only lasting two or three days—are crucial for f...

Meeting Mads Mikkelsen and Sofie Gråbøl at the Venice a international film Festival before the premiere of their film, we discover the compelling blend of humor and profundity in “The Last Viking”, a film that captivates audiences with its dark comedy and unexpected twists.

Performances and character dynamics

Mads Mikkelsen, portraying a character comparable to a six-year-old, brings innocence and clarity to the narrative, emphasizing the film’s themes of understanding and support amid chaos. His portrayal highlights the movie’s core message: even amidst madness, there is a persistent desire for connection and unders...

The film “Becoming Human (Chiet Chea Manusa)” by Polen Ly offers a profound meditation on the intersection of Cambodia’s history, culture, and evolving identity. Presented within the prestigious Biennale College Cinema programme at Venice Film Festival, we met with the director of this debut feature to talk about memory, spirituality, and generational dialogue.

A tribute to Cambodia’s cinematic Golden Era

“Becoming Human” was inspired by Cambodia’s rich cinema history, particularly the vibrant film industry of the 1940s to 1960s. Polen Ly, whose personal roots trace back to the country’s golden age of filmmaking, ch...

In our meeting with Beatrice Borgia, president of the Film Commission Torino Piemonte, who was in Venice for the usual meetings and also for the opening film “La Grazia” by Paolo Sorrentino, which was shot in Torino and helped by the film commission in its production phase, we talked about the film and its importance and about how Torino and Piedmont area continue to be a fertile ground for new projects, talent development, and efficient filming processes.

Torino Piemonte: A film-friendly Hub

Many industry insiders highlight Torino Piemonte as one of Italy’s most film-friendly region...

At this year’s Venice International Film Festival, the Venice Production Bridge showcased its growing influence in supporting filmmakers and industry professionals. With an increase in participation and a dynamic agenda, the event cemented its reputation as a vital hub for co-productions, financing, and industry networking . We discuss these results with the director of VPB, Pascal Diot.

Growing success of Venice Production Bridge

The Venice Production Bridge is rapidly expanding, as noted by Pascal Diot, the director responsible for its organization. “We have increased participation across all our events, including the Venice Financing Market and the...

Celebrating the power of cinema to boost local tourism and economy, the Film Commission Valle d’Aosta has recently published a comprehensive study on the influence of film and TV productions in the region. This in-depth research sheds light on how film projects contribute significantly to regional visibility and economic growth, with ongoing initiatives to harness this potential at the Venice International Film Festival.

The study, spanning from 2011 to 2024, represents a landmark effort to quantify the tangible benefits of film productions on Aosta Valley. As we understand from our talk with Alessandra Miletto, director of the Film Co...

At this year’s Venice Film Festival, the film “Elisa” by Leonardo Di Costanzo has garnered attention not only for its artistic qualities but also for the collaborative efforts behind its production. Supported by the IDM Film and Music Commission of Sudtirol, “Elisa” exemplifies how regional film commissions are actively fostering innovative projects and regional talent development. We talked about it and also about other topics, with Renate Ranzi of the IDM Music & Film Commission of Sudtirol.

Supporting regional talent and international success

“Elisa” was partly shot in Sudtirol, with substantial involvement from approximately 30 local professionals...

“Broken English” by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard has been presented, out of competition, at the 82° Venice International Film Festival.

The film as in the tradition of Forsyth and Pollard’s work, is not a simple documentary on singer and songwriter Marianne Faithfull but “a portrait of her, made with her”.

As the film’s intent is to sort of recalibrate Faithfull’s legacy,  Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard unfolded The Ministry of Not Forgetting, an imagined, cinematic institution where memory and mythology collide.

To lead this Ministry the directors put Tilda Swinton in charge while...

“The Souffleur” by Gaston Solnicki, in competition in the Orizzonti section, stands out for its organic and emotionally charged approach to storytelling. Solnicki shies away from conventional narratives, instead opting for a more spontaneous method—often involving non-traditional actors who bring authenticity and freshness to the project. This approach not only enriches the film’s texture but also invites viewers into a genuinely immersive experience. We went deeper into the film’s philosophy and production in a talk with the director and the film’s star, Willem Dafoe, on the day of the premiere at the Venice Internationa...

From Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard, the BAFTA nominated directors of the Sundance award winning “20,000 Days on Earth“, comes “Broken English“, a bold documentary portrait of the inimitable singer, songwriter and icon: Marianne Faithfull.

The film has been presented out of competition in Venice and sees the collaboration of many artists including Tilda Swinton, George Mackay, Courtney Love, Nick Cave.

What truly matters when telling the story of a person’s life? This is the question that directors Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard asked themselves in approaching the life story of Marianne Faithfull, the subject —...

Interview during the 82nd edition of Venice International Film Festival with Adèle Exarchopoulos and Gille Lellouche, actors in the film “Chien 51”. The production, out of competition in the closing slot of Venice Film Festival 2025, is set in a dystopian France, in which the Ministry of the Interior delegates its security policy to an artificial intelligence called Alma.

A central topic in “Chien 51” is its exploration of artificial intelligence (AI). During the interview, the cast highlighted how the film addresses both the technological fears and ethical questions associated with it. Gilles Lellouche noted that the film was partly in...

Macedonian director Teona Strugar Mitevska is back at the Venice Film Festival with her new film, “Mother“, to open the Orizzonti section.

The film starring Noomi Rapace in the role of 37 years old Mother Teresa portrays the future saint in the seven days before she was given permission to found her order , the Missionaries of Charity.

The idea of directing Mother came to Teona Strugar Mitevska more than 15 years ago when she directed the documentary “Teresa and I“, shot in Kolkata.

The director reveals: “I discovered so many aspects about her...

The Power of Personal Stories in Film

A heartfelt exploration of grief and fatherhood, “Remake” unveils director Ross McElwee‘s intimate relationship with his late son, Adrian, blending personal footage and universal themes. This poignant documentary delves into the complex process of mourning, memory, and the effort to find hope amid loss.

“Remake” stands out for its raw honesty, as Ross McElwee reconstructs his bond with Adrian through a combination of personal footage and cinematic reflection. The film invites viewers into an emotional landscape where grief is intertwined with humor and resilience. McElwee hopes that his story...