The 79th Venice International Film Festival, which is currently taking place until 10th September, is organised by La Biennale di Venezia and directed by Alberto Barbera. ICDN is proud to report that several of its casting director members have been nominated in competition. Congratulations to all of the nominees!
ICDN Advisory Board member Florentina Bratfanof will be present with Mihai Mincan’s first feature film To the North / Spre nord, which has been included in the Orizzonti competition.

Our very own President Timka Grin cast The Happiest Man In The World by Teona Strugar Mitevska, which is also showing in the Orizzonti competition at the Venezia Biennale.

Ukrainian casting director and ICDN member Alla Samoylenko has two films in Venice this year. First off, Victim by Michael Blasko, followed by Luxembourg, Luxembourg by Antonio Lukich, which are both showing in the Orizzonti competition.


Long-standing ICDN members Avy Kaufman, Jeremy Zimmermann and Simone Bär co-cast Tár by Todd Field, which is being shown in the Venezia 79 competition.

And Maurilio Mangano will be represented in the Orrizonti Extra section with Amanda by Carolina Cavalli.

New ICDN member Chiara Polizzi co-cast L’immensità by Emanuele Crialese with Davide Zurolo. The film is being shown in the Venezia 79 competition.

RB Casting Collateral Award

This year will also see the third edition of the RB Casting Collateral Award at Venice Film Festival, an award exclusively designed for Italian performers starring in films included in the Official Selection. The jury is composed of Marita D’Elia, Marco Matteo Donat-Cattin and Florinda Martucciello. The International Venice Film Festival is the first International festival to officially introduce a prize awarded only by casting directors.
The jury will attend the screenings of the films selected in the sections Venezia 79, Out of Competition, Orizzonti and Orizzonti Extra. The best actor or the best actress will be announced on 10th September.
The aim of the award is to promote not only the winning actor but also the category of casting directors, a fundamental professional for the composition of a film’s artistic cast. Casting directors are awarded at BAFTAs, Emmys and in Italy at Nastri d’Argento; they vote for the Oscars, EFAs and David di Donatello Awards.