A city famous for its canals, stunning architecture and history has another treasure that keeps the world enthralled: the Venice Film Festival.
The oldest film festival in the world, this is the best of international cinema.
Let’s go behind the scenes and see the magic happen where dreams come true on screen.
Venice Film Festival
The Venice Film Festival is part of La Biennale di Venezia and was founded in 1932. Since then it’s an unmissable event in the world of cinema.
Every year the festival screens a wide range of original films: feature films, short films, documentaries, experimental films and world premieres.
Held in late August and early September the Venice International Film Festival takes place on the beautiful island of Lido just a short boat ride from the city of Venice.
A brief history
The Venice International Film Festival has a long and complicated history of over 90 years.
In the 1930s Italians were film crazy and the festival was created to celebrate Italian culture and show international films.
But during World War II and the subsequent political turmoil the festival was interrupted and resumed in 1946 and has been an important event in the film world since.
Over the years the festival has undergone many changes: new sections have been added and awards established.
Under the current director Alberto Barbera the festival has become a launching pad for Oscar winning films many of which have premiered here.
In recent years the festival has also embraced new technologies. The festival has continued to evolve and grow and is now a must have event in the global film industry.
It has screened some of the most important and iconic films in the history of cinema and is a true celebration of creativity.
The Awards
Here are the main awards.
- Leone d'Oro (Golden Lion) - the top prize of the festival, for the best film in competition.
- Leone d'Argento - Gran Premio della Giuria (Silver Lion - Grand Jury Prize) - the second prize of the festival, for the runner up in competition.
- Leone d'Argento - Premio Speciale per la Regia (Silver Lion - Best Director) - for the best director in competition.
- Coppa Volpi per la Migliore Interpretazione Maschile (Volpi Cup for Best Actor) - for the best male performance in competition.
- Coppa Volpi per la Migliore Interpretazione Femminile (Volpi Cup for Best Actress) - for the best female performance in competition.
- Premio Marcello Mastroianni (Marcello Mastroianni Award) - for the best young actor or actress in competition.
- In the last few years the Orizzonti prize has become more important. It’s awarded to films that have shown a particular use of languages.
Venice Insider Tips: How to navigate the festival
Before you get lost in the magic of the Venice Film Festival here are some insider tips to help you:
- Where
The festival is on the Lido island, easily reachable by vaporetto from various points in Venice.
The main venue is the Palazzo del Cinema, Lungomare Marconi, 3.
- How to get there
From Venice take the vaporetto Line 1 or Line 5.1 from San Zaccaria to Lido S.M.E. The journey takes about 15 minutes.
From there it’s a short walk or bike ride to the Palazzo del Cinema.
- Stay
Book in advance as hotels and other accommodations fill up fast during the festival.
You can stay at Lido or one of the hotels on the main islands (check our full guide here).
Now let’s answer some of the FAQs about attending the Venice Film Festival
Can anyone go to the Venice Film Festival? Attending Screenings and Events
Yes the Venice Film Festival is open to the public and anyone can attend the screenings and events.
But some screenings are reserved for accredited professionals: journalists, filmmakers and industry reps.
To attend public screenings you need to buy tickets, which cost from €30 for a single screening to €70 for a full day pass depending on the event. Tickets can be bought online on the festival’s official website or at the box office on Lido island.
Check the official website of La Biennale di Venezia for more info:
https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2023/information
https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2024/information
Where to buy the tickets?
Tickets will be available from mid-August and only on the official website of La Biennale.
What to wear to the Mostra del Cinema di Venezia?
There is no dress code to attend the festival but we suggest smart casual for daytime events and screenings. Gala screenings and premieres may require more formal attire so check the event details when you buy your tickets.
The Venice Film Festival is a big deal, it’s a launchpad for films and filmmakers that will become legends.
So attending this is a once in a lifetime experience for film lovers.
And that’s it for our Venice Film Festival guide. We hope you’re now excited about this amazing city and its cinematic wonders.
Go beyond the screen and discover Venice!
