The Venice Film Festival (Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia) is the worlds oldest and most esteemed  celebration of film and is as much a part of Italy as Prosecco and pasta! The festival is an illustrious and important piece of Italy’s history, with an impressive  journey through ill-renowned  Fascist influence, the birth of Italian neorealism, the onset of the swinging sixties and the fluctuating fortunes of film. The festival takes place every year in late August to early September and is part of the  Biennale di Venezia.

The festival was established by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the ‘Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica’ and attracted 25’000 spectators.The festival didn’t become competitive till 1934 and since 1949 the ‘Golden Lion award’ has become the most illustrious award of the festival for best film. Screenings take place in the Palazzo del Cinema on the Lungomare Marconi as well as other nearby venues and Venice in general is host to a great party of exhibitions, parties and celebrations.

This year was the festivals 70th edition and to celebrate this impressive birthday 70 directors were asked to direct a film short, collectively this has become Venice 70 – Future Reloaded. The Venice Film Festival 2013 took place  took place between the 28th August – 7th September on Venice Lido, and was directed by Alberto Barbara.

Image: Venice Film Festival 2013