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, with an additional focus placed on how filmmakers are making their productions as environmentally friendly as practicable. We were also in the company of several DN alums including Tomson Tee who screened his darkly satirical wealth disparity short Click Click BOOM!, Sami Schinaia with his stylistic short LOVE U 2CB, Daria Geller whose Leonard Cohen scored political action film meets music video Everybody Knows played and we got to see Nicola Martni pick up the award for best VFX for his branded flocking jewellery short The Shape of Life. All of these films and the list of winners below demonstrate Conero Film + ADV is a festival and community which promotes sustainability and celebrates the rich human tradition of storytelling.

2024 Winners

Best Music Video over 10K: The Chemical Brothers – Skipping Like A Stone (Audio) ft. Beck, directed by Pensacola and produced by Canada.

Best Campaign, Best Edit, and Best Concept: Assume That I Can, directed by Rich Lee and produced by Indiana.

Best Independent Project: The Ice Builders, co-dir. Francesco Clerici + Tommaso Barbaro

Best Direction: Sexed – But Then it Happened, directed by Jan Dybus and produced by Papaya Films

Best Cinematography: Lista, directed by Bianca Poletti and produced by Co. UnderWonder Content and Disco Pants Inc.

Best Casting: FemFund – We Hear You, directed by Kasia Bielska and produced by Papaya Films.

Best VFX: The Shape of Life, directed by Nicola Martini and produced by Jumpp.

Best Styling and Best Fashion Film (Unbranded): MIME II, directed by Adrian Langenbach and Celine Godar

Best Styling and Best Fashion Film (Branded): Versace Jeans Couture, directed by Enrico Bellenghi and produced by C41.

Best Set Design: Wasted, directed by Tobia Passigato

Best Animation: Patrick Holland – Your Life, directed by Jordan “Dr.Cool” Minkoff and produced by Co. Cool Video

Best Sound: Dell’Altro Mondo (Otherworldly) directed by Delia Simonetti.

Impact Award: For Peanut, directed by Matthew Palmer and produced by Palmer Films Inc.