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Last week Directors Notes had the privilege of being invited back to sit on the jury of the second edition of Conero Film + Adv – taking place from the 6th – 8th of September, organised by Local Bizarro and MontanariPR. This year’s edition welcomed and hosted agencies, production companies, brands and directors into the heart of the Conero Natural Park in Italy, harnessing a unique and refreshing blend of forward thinking film festival curation and the spirit and collaboration of a creative retreat. Conero Film + Adv saw an impressive second year growth with 800 films submitted from 34 countries, screening 60 projects and featuring a host of engaging and educational industry panels, along with a filmmaker Q&a hosted by Dn’s own MarBelle.

Amongst the winners and attendees, Dn was delighted to re-connect with Cfa’s Nico Montanari and Mattia Fiumani – who we spoke to last year about the festival’s unique sustainability ethos across its curation and operations,...

In times of crisis, it can be easy to stand still and do nothing. This has been the choice of many Russians in light of the invasion of Ukraine, avoiding uncomfortable conversations and wanting it to simply blow over. Nonetheless, if anything is going to change at home, resistance to the regime might be crucial. With Everybody Knows, Russian Director Daria Geller – last seen on Dn with fractious relationship short Him & Her – counts the tragic cost of complacency, reducing everyone to a victim eventually. Shooting in a disused, brutalist-looking care home in Tel Aviv, her group scenes thrum with tension, warm 16mm images showing the mixture of emotions playing off idle, unspeaking rubberneckers. Featuring a new cover of Leonard Cohen’s classic song, it shows how the horrors are known by everyone, and how it can easily get worse if people refuse to speak up and make a difference, despite...