An exceptional jury will evaluate the films in competition at the 18th edition of Pordenone Docs Fest – Le Voci del Documentario, taking place from April 2 to 6 at Cinemazero.
The three jurors include Roberto Minervini, winner of the Best Director award in the “Un Certain Regard” section at Cannes last year for I dannati, and a renowned filmmaker whose documentaries unveil the contradictions of deep America. Joining him is Martina Parenti, fresh from winning Best Director at IDFA in Amsterdam, Europe’s most prestigious documentary festival, for her film Bestiari, Erbari, Lapidari. Completing the panel is Sara Fgaier, an editor, producer, and archival researcher, who recently made her directorial debut with her first fiction feature, Sulla terra leggeri, shot by cinematographer Alberto Fasulo and presented at the Locarno Film Festival.
Having three highly acclaimed artists on the jury confirms that Pordenone Docs Fest has become one of the most significant events for cinema del reale in Italy. Minervini, Parenti, and Fgaier are audiovisual professionals who, thanks to their talent, have gained international recognition, particularly for their ability to experiment and innovate—qualities that make them a perfect fit for Cinemazero’s festival.
As per tradition, the jurors will be special guests at the awards ceremony, which will take place at the festival’s grand finale on Sunday, April 6, at 9 PM at Cinemazero, during a special cine-concert celebrating the 130th anniversary of cinema’s invention.
On the same day, at 5:15 PM at Palazzo Badini, Roberto Minervini will hold an exclusive masterclass, open to the public, where he will discuss his cinematic journey, marked by his unique ability to merge fiction and documentary techniques. He will be in conversation with Alessandro Stellino, film critic and Artistic Director of Festival dei Popoli in Florence.
In his films, Minervini has explored life on the margins of contemporary America, portraying a society where more and more people find themselves excluded due to racial and class divisions. His documentaries offer a deeper understanding of the contradictions within the United States today, making it especially important for the festival to present a special homage featuring three screenings of his works:
📽️ Friday, April 4, at 3:00 PM – Louisiana The Other Side
A documentary exploring an invisible territory at the edge of illegality and anarchy, where the forgotten dwell and the abyss of deep America unfolds.
📽️ Saturday, April 5, at 4:30 PM – Stop the Pounding Heart (with Minervini in attendance)
A powerful exploration of adolescence, family and social values, gender roles, and religion in rural Southern America.
📽️ Sunday, April 6, at 2:30 PM – What You Gonna Do When the World’s on Fire? (introduced by Minervini)
A reflection on racism in the U.S., as well as an intimate portrait of a community fighting for justice, dignity, and survival. The film premiered in competition at the 2018 Venice Film Festival.
The rich program of Pordenone Docs Fest, which will be unveiled to the press and public on Monday, March 24, at 11:30 AM, also includes another major masterclass on Saturday, April 5, at 12:00 PM at Cinemazero, featuring Martina Parenti. She will focus on her artistic career and collaboration with Massimo D’Anolfi, a creative partnership that has earned worldwide recognition. A key element of her filmmaking is the innovative use of archival materials, making this event a unique opportunity to explore cinema del reale and the narrative power of images from the past.
