Picturesque surroundings, like that of the small lakeside village of Revine Lake, a stone’s throw from the northern boundary of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Docg appellation, combined with the idea of ​​creating a forum to enable artists to express their connection with the area. This was the basis for the inception, 12 years ago, of Lago Film Fest, an event devoted to the screening of independent short films. In just over a decade the festival has been able to attain notable fame, so much so that it has developed a reputation as a European capital of short art-house films. The 13^th edition of this great little festival is scheduled to be held from July 21 to 29, and every year it premieres 120 short films from all over the world, with the total reaching 200 films when the films not included in the competition are added in. It boasts an army of enthusiast members of the public who are not only close followers but who are an active part of the event.

As explained by the director of the festival, Viviana Carlet, “Lago Film Fest was initially set up to provide a forum which would give artists a means to express their passion for the land, a kind of public art. And we immediately felt that the medium of film, especially that of short films, was the most suitable, direct and immediate art form to enable artists and audiences to interact in a modular way. The event also includes music, performing arts, dance and projects dedicated to children.” However, Lago Film Fest does not stop at the end of the festival, but the work continues throughout the year to organise a range of activities and collaborations such as the project ” Venetian Frames: young people tell their stories”, funded by the Veneto Region and managed in collaboration with Ca’ Foscari University. The aim is to investigate the relationship between youth, creativity and employment in the audiovisual and storytelling sector, as well as to provide support for young and emerging filmmakers.

The thirteenth edition of the LFF will include five big screens set up on the banks of the lake, in the streets and courtyards of the village and also in the nearby Livelet Park. The programme will include morning meetings with the filmmakers, afternoon workshops and evening screenings. There will be a special section called Borders, dedicated to stories about both real and interior boundaries, and will have themes focussing on the works of a single country. At the end of the event the jury made up of members of the public and international visitors will announce the awards for the best short films of the festival.

XIII LAGO FILM FEST
Dal 21 al 29 luglio
Revìne Lago
Info: www.lagofest.org

[This article was originally published in the Visit Conegliano Valdobbiadene magazine, issue Spring Summer 2017. The magazine is available here]