Venice Film Festival, the history

Venice Film Festival, the history of this important event is unknown to most. A real shame. If we consider that it is one of the most important cinematic events on a global level, perhaps it would be good to know what its origins are.

Below is a short course therefore with lots of information and some small curiosities about the way in which the Film Festival it has evolved over time.

Venice Film Festival, the history of the first editions

Initially it took the name of International Cinematographic Art ExhibitionThe first edition takes place from 6 to 21 August 1932an event that arises within the Venice Biennaleat that time in its 28th edition.

The event, which was non-competitive at the time, was immediately acclaimed loudly, after all it was the first international event of this kind for our country. The location chosen is only one, the terrace of theHotel Excelsior at Venice Lido and the first film that is shown is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Of They stole Mamoulian. There are no votes or official prizes, but it is decided to hold a referendum among the public anyway. According to the majority, he is the best director Nikolai Eck.

History of the second edition of the Venice Film Festival

The second edition of the Venice Film Festival takes place a few years later, from 1 to 20 August 1934. The festival is transformed, it is to all intents and purposes one competitive review. However, there is no real jury.

The winners are decided by the Presidency of the Biennaleafter listening to the opinions of both experts and the public, in accordance with theInternational Institute for Educational CinematographyThe young actress wins as best actress Katharine Hepburn while the recognition for best foreign film is obtained by The Man of Aran Of Flaherty.

Venice Film Festival, the story continues from 1935

Since 1935 the exhibition has become a annual event and both the number of films in competition and the number of participating countries are starting to increase. In 1936 she was mentioned for the first time in the History of the Venice Film Festival the International jury.

In 1937 we witnessed the inauguration of the new one Cinema Palace curated by the architect Louis Quagliata. The event is growing and becoming more and more important. To think that names of the calibre of Marlene Dietrich, Bette Davis, Jean Gabin. 1938 is a somewhat special year.

The political pressure Films that are explicitly propaganda make themselves heard and obtain important recognition. But the event has now transformed and there is very little left for it to become the one we all know today.

Venice Film Festival, the story of its evolution

The conclusion of Guerra causes some problems for the Italian film festival. After a few years, however, everything seems to return to normal, and indeed they arrive at the demonstration new cinematography, like the Japanese and Indian ones. Not only that, these are the years of Italian neorealist films most successful, directed by directors of the caliber of Federico Fellini e Michelangelo Antonioni. Marlon Brando, Brigitte Bardot, Gina Lollobrigida, Sophia Loren, Alberto Sordi, Vittorio Gassman, they are the most acclaimed stars of the time.

It’s now a international event and is destined to become more and more so in the years to come. Starting from the 1960s, the Exhibition also began to offer an opportunity to young emerging directorsie in the following two decades the event was enriched with new categories and many events were organised.

No longer just projections in short, a festival all-round where cinema is the true and undisputed protagonist. Precisely to cope with such a rich and vast calendar, new locations are created. The Cinema Palace in fact, it is no longer sufficient on its own.

Venice Film Festival to date

From the early 2000s to today the Venice Film Festival has undergone some other, albeit small, changes. An event that wants to remain faithful to the tradition and which aims to be a top-level festival, but which also wants to renew itself. Yes, because it is important to give space to new forms of expression and be able to recognize the changes that the cinema itself naturally undergoes as time passes.

Not only cinema and culture obviously, the history of the Venice Film Festival also talks to us about fashion and glamour. Every year, everyone waits with great impatience for the landing of the world famous stars at the Lido, to see the looks they chose, but also who they decided to bring by their side.

The wait is even greater regarding the red carpetthis occasion in which directors and actors they show off their best outfits, usually designed by most prestigious fashion houses. Finally, it is important to remember that the festival does not only reward new films. The Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement It is a prestigious recognition that all those who work in the cinema hope to receive one day. Anyone who would like more information can read the volume by Gian Piero Brunetta by title The Venice International Film Festival published by Marsilio publishing house.

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