Luciano Barisone, artistic director of Florence’s Festival dei Popoli since 2008, has been named the successor to Jean Perret as director of Nyon’s Visions du Réel.

Barisone was unanimously voted in Nyon this weekend by the festival’s board and selection committee to take over running the international documentary festival this summer.

“His artistic talents, his profound knowledge of the film scene as well as his ability to motivate his staff and impart his enthusiasm and knowledge are guarantees for the successful continuing existence of the Visions du Réel festival,” an official communique said.

The Genoa-born journalist and film critic Barisone worked for several international film festivals, including Locarno and Venice, before launching the Infinity Festival in Alba in 2002, which he headed until 2007.

Jean Perret will be taking up his new position as head of the film department at the Haute Ecole d’Art Et De Design (HEAD) in Geneva this autumn.

The 16th edition of Visions du Réel runs until April 21.