Well, it looks like Tarantino's decision to award his ex-girlfriend and other best friends some of the big awards at this years Venice festival has caused an even bigger controversy than 'I'm Still Here'... I mentioned yesterday the odd co-incidence of the Coppola and Tarantino connection but looks like the Italian press are not happy, and worse still Venice staff have used the old 'no comment' get out of jail card when asked to comment on the situation.

Obviously, it does look very bad that QT has handed out these awards to people who have/had close connections/relationships with him. The old saying goes that if you know the festival organisers then this certainly helps your chances of getting your film screened at their festival. However, we don't do that at Abertoir - the festival director is 100% fair; 24/7, and doesn't allow that issue to get in the way when we are deciding what films make the final line up. In addition, all of our best film and best short competitions are judged by our audience. Maybe this is what the big film festivals should do in the future - take the views by industry delegates into consideration.

Part of me doubts very much that QT manipulated his colleagues to agree with him that his friends should win - as their opnion is also very important, just as much as his. Then again others may think that because he was the one who had the final say maybe he ignored their comments... whatever happend I think that this will prove to be a much bigger conspiracy than the plot of 'I'm Still Here'... :)