A closer look at the professional resume and biographical notes of the jurors of this year’s edition. In this section, a deeper look at the jury for Queer Lion 2007
PRESIDENT OF JURY
Andrea Occhipinti
Theater, movie and television actor. Debuted in 1977 as a stage actor, directed by Giancarlo Palermo, in Pierrot fumista. On television, his first acting work was in La vita di Antonio Gramsci. On the big screen, he’s been among the ensemble cast of Ettore Scola’s La famiglia, as well as appearing in Peter Del Monte’s Tracce di vita amorosa. More recently, he played roles in spanish productions such as Amor de hombre and Reinas. In 1987 he created Lucky Red, a movie distribution and production company renowned for its constant research of quality cinema. As a producer, in 2002 he won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for Peter Mullan’s The Magdalene Sisters.
Delia Vaccarello
Journalist and writer, born in Palermo, spending her life between Rome and Umbria. She writes a weekly column dealing with young people’s sexuality for Il Salvagente magazine as well as being in charge for the Uno, due, tre… liberi tutti page for daily newspaper L’Unità. Teacher of Media and sexual behavior at the journalist schools of Bologna and Urbino. Among her books: Gli Svergognati (La tartaruga, 2002), L’amore secondo noi (Oscar Mondadori, 2005), Sciò! giovani bugie identità (Oscar Mondadori, 2007). She edited the first 5 editions of the anthology of short novels Principesse azzurre (Oscar Mondadori).
Sandro Avanzo
Journalist and critic. Born in Romagna, grew up in Bologna, currently living and working in Milan, great lover of cinema and theater. Began to write in the early eigthies for Sipario, Babilonia, Altri Media, Excelsior. Since 1989, he’s the voice of the legit world from the microphones of Radio Popolare. In 1996 organizes the first italian retrospective on Cinema and Aids. Member of the jury of Ubu Theater Award since 1996. Author of the items dedicated to musical and revue theater for Dizionario dello spettacolo del ’900 (Baldini e Castoldi, 1998). Member of SNCCI (Italian Union of Cinema Critics) since 1997. Latest contributions: Vanity Fair, Ciak, Film TV magazines.
Vincenzo Patanè
Journalist and writer, teaches History of Art in Venice. Lover and specialist of gay cinema, he’s the author of Ebano Nudo, Cinema & Pittura, A qualcuno piace gay, Derek Jarman, Shakespeare al cinema, L’omosessualità nel cinema americano 1987/1998 e Breve storia del cinema italiano con tematica omosessuale (part of the italian edition of Vito Russo’s The Celluloid Closet), Arabi e noi – Amori gay nel Maghreb, L’altra metà dell’amore – Dieci anni di cinema omosessuale, Homosexuality in the Middle East and North Africa (Thames & Hudson).
Simone Morandi
Movie producer and attorney specialized in show business and royalties, founder in 2005 of Fourlab, a movie and television production and distribution company. In 2007 Fourlab acquires the rights for Italy of more than 30 LGBT-themed movies, among them Latter Days and Another Gay Movie, successfully aired on satellite tv channel SkyShow. His efforts in movie distribution will continue in early 2008 with the launch of OutLoud!, a brand new home-video label.
JURY COORDINATOR
Daniel N. Casagrande
Journalist, president of CinemArte cultural association, conceiver of Queer Lion Award and director of Giornate di Cinema Omosessuale (Venice Gays), showcase of glbt-themed movies on their Italian or European premiere.
