Bvlgari Critics' Choice Award

THE AWARD

Inaugurated in 2017, the Lavazza Italian Film Festival (LIFF) in partnership with Bvlgari is proud to present yet another glamorous edition of the Bvlgari Critics' Choice Award: a prize to celebrate contemporary Italian filmmaking and screen storytelling excellence. Receiving a custom designed award by Italy’s most iconic luxury brand Bvlgari, the winning film will be revealed via social media on Friday, 11 October.

THE JURY

LIFF is honoured to have a dedicated panel of experts including journalists, actors and curators to assess the line-up of nominees this year. Each jury member brings a unique perspective and film background to the task.

Karl Quinn

PRESIDENT OF THE JURY

Karl Quinn is a senior entertainment writer for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald. A writer, editor and reviewer for more than 25 years, Karl specialises in film and television coverage. He also talks movies on Raf Epstein's ABC Radio Melbourne Drive show each Friday, and co-hosts the humorous pop culture podcast The Clappers.

Steve Bastoni

One of Australia’s most versatile and accomplished actors, Steve has a string of film, theatre and television credits such as Truth, The Water Diviner, Matrix Reloaded, the Golden Globe nominated On The Beach as well as the TV shows Wentworth and Neighbours. Steve has received multiple AFI and FCCA Award nominations.

Sara Bavato

Sara Bavato is a journalist for Il Globo and La Fiamma, the Italian biweekly newspapers in Australia. She is the creator and coordinator of In classe, a monthly insert that aims to encourage and promote the Italian language and culture in schools across the country.

Will Cox

Will Coxis a Naarm-based writer. He’s been the Arts Editor atBroadsheet Melbournesince 2015, and his writings on art, film and literature have also appeared in The Guardian, The Saturday Paper, Vault and The Lifted Brow.

Isabella Giovinazzo

Isabella Giovinazzo is an Australian actress and writer best known for her role as Phoebe Nicholson in the Australian drama Home & Away, Reef Break (ABC US) and is currently starring in the Network Ten drama Playing for Keeps.

The Films

The five competing films form an exclusive snapshot of the finest contemporary Italian productions, ranging from critically acclaimed dramas to bittersweet comedies. Don’t miss these must-see highlights.

New Italian Cinema

The Vice of Hope

Australian Premiere

Edoardo De Angelis follows up his acclaimed drama Indivisible with this powerful, award-winning new film portraying a woman fighting to escape the criminal underworld she has been born into.

Dafne

Australian Premiere

Recently selected to screen in the Panorama Section of the 2019 Berlin International Film Festival, Dafne is a poignant and feel-good portrait of a delicate family struck by a tragedy.

If Life Gives You Lemons

Australian Premiere

A boy torn between his bond with his troubled mother and his desire to break free is the subject of this intimately affective drama which premiered at the 2018 Venice International Film Festival.

If Only

Australian Premiere

Direct from its Locarno Film Festival premiere, Ginevra Elkann’s Italo-French co-pro stars Alba Rohrwacher and Riccardo Scamarcio in an 80s-set sentimental comedy about three children of divorced parents.

Twin Flower

Australian Premiere

This nuanced and profound drama set against the beautiful Sardinian landscape is an exploration of companionship, lost innocence, and shared destiny as two troubled teenagers journey towards a new life.