Giornate Degli Autori - Venice Days

The Venice Days were born in 2004, as an independent event on the fringes of the Venice Film Festival, modeled on the prestigious ‘Directors´ Fortnight´ of the Cannes Festival and promoted by the associations of Italian film directors and authors (Anac and 100autori).

The aim of the event is to draw attention to high quality cinema, without any kind of restriction, with special care for innovation, research, originality and independence. These are all features of the 12 films selected as well as being reflected in the special events held during the Days in the Villa degli Autori.

Ever since the first edition, the Days have come to represent a real alternative to the Festival´s official areas and an ideal and informal place for authors, producers, distributors and journalists to meet and discuss their ideas in an informal environment.

The 12 films selected from all over the world, in addition to other events and any special screenings, are screened in the theatres provided by the Venice Film Festival. 

Four times a film from the Venice Days has won the top prize for new authors at the Venice Film Festival: the "Luigi De Laurentiis Award Lion of the Future".

Venice Days´ (a "non-competitive" section of the Festival) only official award has been the Label Europa Cinemas, dedicated to films produced and co-produced in Europe. The Label was created by a network of high-calibre European exhibitors, with the support of the EU´s MEDIA Programme. It consists of a financial contribution towards distribution and promotion, as well as a guarantee for the winning film that it will be shown in the cinemas belonging to the network.

All the films participating to the Days are also in competition for the parallel awards, with a ceremony due to take place on the last day of the Festival.