The Venice Film Festival or Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica di Venezia is the oldest of all the film festivals in the entire world. The history of this festival started in 1932 as the Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica and has evolved over the years. It is perhaps one of the lesser known film festivals with Sundance and Caan having more worldwide publicity and fame.
This festival takes place in the Palazzo del Cinema which is located on the Lungomare Marconi. There is of course awards for best film, best actor and actress and some other awards that are quite unique to Venice. The most unique award is best film of the controcorrente or against the stream section and this is of course called the San Marco award. This film festival usually takes place in late August to early September. For instance the last festival, which was the 64th, took place between August 29th and September 8th . What is really remarkable about this celebration is that all films since World War 2 were first premiered at this extravaganza.
The awards given for the best film are the Leone d’Oro or the Golden Lion which is awarded to the best film screened at the festival. And then there is the Coppa Volpi which is given to the best actress and actor.
This festival seems to be a good indicator of those films that are going to recieve the nod at the Golden Globe awards. For instance six films that premiered here received 18 nominations for the Golden Globe awards. I am not really sure why this is the case but it seems like always Italians are a good litmus test of what is of good taste.
If you are lucky enough to be in Venice during this time I am sure you are bound to see some celebrity that you like. If you are not at all in that sort of thing I would stay away as I am sure this place is swarming with press and paparazzi which can be quite exciting to say the least.
