The Canadian short documentary Who Loves the Sun is among the 13 short films competing in the Orizzonti programme at this year’s Venice Biennale. Who Loves the Sun is directed by Arshia Shakiba, who previously directed the shorts A Beautiful Day (2003) and The Guests (2018). Shakiba has also served as editor on several short films, as well as cinematographer on projects including Rojek, Canada’s submission to the Oscars for Best International Feature last year. The film is produced Shakiba and Rojek director Zaynê Akyol.
Who Loves the Sun observes the landscape of makeshift oil refinieries in war-torn Syria. The film is the only Canadian selection announced for Venice so far and is one of two documentaries screening in the Orizzonti competition. The other is René va alla guerra, an Italian-Slovenian co-production by Mariachiara Pernisa, Luca Ferri, and Morgan Menegazzo.
The list of films announced in competition are as follows. Venice is expected to unveil more selections in the weeks to come.
Eredeyse Kesinlikle Yanlis (Almost Certainly False)
by Cansu Baydar
with Rahaf Armanazi, İsa Karataş, Ferhat Akgün, Büşra Albayrak, Ubey Gül / Turkey/ 20’
Shadows
by Rand Beiruty
Animation / France, Jordan / 11’
Il Burattino e la balena
by Roberto Catani
Animation / France, Italy / 8’
Duyao Mao (The Poison Cat)
by Tian Guan
with Liguo Yuan, Yanxi Li / China/ 17’
Nime Baz, Nime Basteh (Ajar)
by Atefeh Jalali
with Ebrahim Azizi, Masoomeh Iranshahi / Iran / 12’
Three Keenings
by Oliver McGoldrick
with Seamus O’Hara, Sean Kearns, Carol Moore, Caitriona Hinds, Niall Cusack / UK, Ireland, USA / 10’
My Mother Is a Cow
by Moara Passoni
with Luísa Bastos, Helena Albergaria, Amorosa No, Ana Carolina Guztazaky, Claudio Rodrigues da Silva / Brazil / 15’
René va alla guerra
by Mariachiara Pernisa, Luca Ferri, and Morgan Menegazzo
Documentary / Italy, Slovenia / 18’
James
by Andres Rodríguez
with James Maldonado, Jose Poz, Erick Maldonado / Guatemala, Mexico / 20’
O
by Rúnar Rúnarsson
with Ingvar E. Sigurðsson / Iceland, Sweden / 20’
Who Loves the Sun
by Arshia Shakiba
Documentary / Canada / 19’
Moon Lake
by Jeannie Sui Wonders
with Grace Hunt Sui, Chase Sui Wonders, Riley Downey, Valeria Embarcadero Perez, Daphne Williams, Sophie Watson / USA / 12’
Marion
by Joe Weiland, Finn
with Caroline Noguès-Larbère, Radouan Leflahi, Laurent Fernandez, Manuel Severi, Chloé Bugard / France, UK / 13′
