2 films from Biennale College Cinema selected for the Oscars

Two films from the Biennale College – Cinema programme, selected among the projects of the 13th edition (2024–2025), have been chosen to represent their respective production countries at the 2027 Academy Awards. They are Becoming Human (Chiet Chea Manusa) by Polen Ly for Cambodia and One Woman One Bra by Vincho Nchogu for Kenya. Both films premiered at the 82^nd Venice International Film Festival in 2025 and were produced thanks to a €200,000 grant provided by La Biennale di Venezia.

Synopsis: Thida, the spirit guardian of an old cinema facing demolition, must confront her existence as a ghost and the choice of rebirth. When she meets Hai, a living human with whom she forms a deep bond, their connection forces her to face not only her spiritual destiny but also the realities of a country undergoing profound social change.

Director’s Statement (Polen Ly): “Writing Chiet Chea Manusa was like a meditative journey that allowed me to reflect on what it means to be a human in a landscape that has gone through trauma and transformation. As the child of a family which lived through the Cambodian genocide and as a filmmaker in the present, I have witnessed people’s loss of home, livelihood, and natural landscapes from unjust forms of development and change.”

Synopsis: The villagers of Sayit are about to receive title deeds, marking the first time in centuries they will claim legal ownership of their land. While this is great news for many, 38-year-old Star faces the risk of losing her home. The title deeds are based on kinship ties, and since her parentage is unknown and she is unmarried, her situation is precarious. Things take a turn when Star discovers a photograph of her younger self in The World Book of Nomads. 

Director’s Statement (Vincho Nchogu): “I am grateful for the support of Biennale College Cinema, which allowed me to tell the story of a woman fighting for recognition despite lacking family, husband, or children. What began as a political commentary evolved into a feminist narrative. Viewers will embark on a journey with a woman battling for her home and identity while immersed in the vibrant sights and sounds of a village nestled on the Kenyan border with Tanzania.”

Activities also continue for the 15^th Biennale College Cinema (2026–2027) with the presentation today, Thursday 15 October at 3:00 pm at Ca’ Giustinian, of the 12 projects by their respective teams (each composed of a director and a producer) who participated in the first workshop in Venice from 5 to 15 October 2026. Out of the 12 projects, 9 come from the Biennale College – Cinema International call, and 3 from the Biennale College Cinema – Italia selection.

During a working session from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, the 12 teams will present their projects developed during the workshops, focusing on story development and various production aspects. Participants come from Bolivia, China, Hong Kong S.A.R., India, Italy, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Romania, Rwanda, UK, and USA.

The 12 projects selected for this first phase of the 15^th Biennale College – Cinema are:

• A Forward Society (India) - director: Vindhya Gupta; producer: Shilpi Agarwal (first feature)
• ALBA - All the Lights Burn Awake (Italy) - director: Gian Luca Catalfamo; producer: Leonardo Birindelli (first feature)
• Alligator Pond (Jamaica) - director: Sonte'nish Myer; producer: Analisa Champan (first feature)
• Circle (China/Hong Kong S.A.R.) - director: Shihan Tan; producer:  Alex Jiang (first feature)
• Do You Hear What I Hear?  (USA) - director: Kevin Walker & Jack Auen; producer: Jason Zuriff (second feature)
• Igihu (Rwanda) - director: Ishimwe Samuel; producer: Mbabazi Sharangabo Philbert Aimé (second feature)
• Il Tempo Sospeso - Time Suspended (Italy) - director: Lorenzo Spinelli; producer: Andrea Di Fede (first feature)
• Miss Prison (Italy) - director: Sofia Spotti; producer:  Bernardo Angeletti (first feature)
• People Everywhere (Romania) - director: Andrei Epure; producer:  Ana Gheorghe (second feature)
• Purple Sun (Kazakhstan) - director: Dana Alimjanova; producer: Aruzhan Dossymkozha (first feature)
• Tesseracto  (UK/Bolivia) - director: Patrick Lockton Cordova; producer: Paola Gosalvez (second feature)
• The Words I Do Not Have (Kenya)  - director: Shandra Apondi / produttrice: Shveta Naidoo (first feature)

Biennale College – Cinema, organised by La Biennale di Venezia, enjoys the support of the Italian Ministry of Culture, the Bukhman Foundation as lead supporter since the 15th edition (2026-2027), with the additional support byChanel. Biennale College Cinema relies on the academic collaboration of the Gotham Film & Media Institute of New York and TorinoFilmlab. Director is Alberto Barbera, Head of Programme Savina Neirotti.