The 18th International Critics Week line-up at the Venice Film Festival (Aug 27-Sep 6) will feature eight films this year, including Joy Of Madness by 15-year-old Hana Makhmalbaf (pictured), daughter of Iranian director Moshen Makhmalbaf and younger sister of Samira.

A documentary, Joy Of Madness was filmed in Afghanistan and tells the story behind the shoot of Samira Makhmalabaf's At Five In The Afternoon - which played in competition at Cannes earlier this year.

Films competing for the Critics Week's $10,000 prize alongside Joy Of Madness are Indian director Manish Jha's Matru Bhomi, Mr. Butterfly by Korea's Kim Hyeon-Seong; Twist by Canada's Jacob Tierney; Variete Francaise by France's Frederic Videau; Argentina's Ana Y Los Otros by Celina Murga; Singaporean director Royston Tan's Fifteen, and Italian director Salvatore Mereu's Ballo A Tre Passi.

Italy's national critics union (SNCCI) selected eight films this year rather than the usual seven to compete for the top prize. Films in Critics Week will also be able to compete for the Lion of the Future award, a Euros 100,000 prize for the best debut feature among the entire line-up of the Venice Film Festival.

Critics Week jury members will include Respiro actress Valerio Golino and hot Turkish-Italian director Ferzan Ozpetek (Facing Windows).