Wayne Borg and Dennis Ruh Headline Jury as Final Cut in Venice Crowns “Aisha Can’t Fly Away”
By Space Coast Daily // September 13, 2024
The 12th edition of Final Cut in Venice, a vital industry program supporting films in post-production from Africa and Arab countries, concluded with a noteworthy awards ceremony at the Venice Film Festival.
This year’s event saw Wayne Borg, Managing Director of Neom Media Industries, joining the prestigious jury alongside Monica Ciarli of Minerva Pictures and former European Film Market director Dennis Ruh.
The jury awarded the top prize to Egyptian filmmaker Morad Mostafa’s “Aisha Can’t Fly Away.” The project received the La Biennale di Venezia Prize for a film in post-production, accompanied by a €5,000 award. Mostafa’s feature debut tells the story of a Somali woman caring for her elderly parents in Cairo while navigating the complexities of the city’s diverse ethnic groups.
In their statement, the jury praised Mostafa’s work as “powerful and authentic,” noting its confident direction and distinct cinematic voice despite being a first feature film. The jury was particularly impressed by the project’s gritty realism, attention to detail, and impactful storytelling.
“Aisha Can’t Fly Away” also garnered additional recognition, securing prizes from the Cinémathèque Afrique of the Institut Français, Rai Cinema, Festival International de Films de Fribourg, and Titra Films.
The Final Cut in Venice program, which ran from September 1-3, showcased seven selected productions chosen from 52 submitted projects by 57 filmmakers. The lineup included four fiction features, two docufictions, and one documentary. Notable entries alongside Mostafa’s winning film were “My Father’s Scent” by Mohamed Siam, “Ancestral Visions of the Future” by Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese, “The Prophet” by Ique Langa, and “In This Darkness I See You” by Nadim Tabet.
The Venice Production Bridge, the industry arm of the festival, reported positive growth this year. There was an 8% increase in industry delegates compared to 2023, with 63 panels held at the VPB market, marking a 15% rise from the previous year. The event also featured 41 VPB market screenings, including 14 films not in the festival’s official selection.
This year’s edition placed a significant focus on streaming platforms, with 10 European and international streamers participating in the Meet the Streamers program. One-to-one meetings saw a substantial 103% increase, totaling 236 meetings between streaming platforms and industry professionals.
The Book Adaptation Rights Market also experienced growth, with a 14% increase in one-to-one meetings, reaching 640 in 2024. This year’s market highlighted crime and thriller genres, featuring dedicated publishing houses and literary agencies.
Key industry players from companies such as Amazon, Apple TV, Netflix, Studiocanal UK, Fremantle Media, Mubi, Neon, and A24 attended the various components of the Venice Production Bridge, including the Venice Gap-Financing Market, Book Adaptation Rights Market, Final Cut in Venice, Meet the Streamers, and VPB Market screenings.As the Venice Film Festival continues to evolve its industry offerings, the success of programs like Final Cut in Venice, with esteemed jurors like Wayne Borg of Neom, Monica Ciarli of Minerva Pictures, and former director of the European Film Market Dennis Ruh, underscores the event’s commitment to fostering emerging talent and supporting diverse voices in global cinema.
