Information

When will the next Venice Film Festival run?
1 to 11 September 2021.

Which films will screen at the next Festival?
The full line-up will be announced on 26 July 2021 during the official press conference.

How many sections are there in the line-up?
The official selection includes: Venezia 78, Out of Competition, Orizzonti, Venice Classics, Biennale College Cinema, and Venice Virtual Reality.
The independent and parallel sections include the International Critics’ Week (SIC) and the Giornate degli autori, these sections having their own regulations.

Which screenings are scheduled for the public?
The public has its own access to screenings as will be indicated in the daily programme. Some screenings are reserved for accredited visitors.

Are children admitted to screenings?
Children under the age of 6 are not admitted to screenings. All screenings with a minimum age limit of 14 (12 if accompanied by a parent or whomever has parental authority, both providing a valid ID document) are specified in the program.

How do I buy tickets and subscriptions?
Details will be available around mid-August. Tickets and subscriptions will be available on www.labiennale.org.

Which prizes does the Festival award?
The Venezia 78 international jury will award the Golden Lion for Best Film. The international juries of the other sections will award the remaining prizes as specified in the Regulations.

What are the conditions for submitting a film?
All production or distribution companies and filmmakers can submit films for selection, providing they own the rights to do so and respect the Regulations and the festival deadlines.

What is the deadline for submitting a film?
The deadline is mid-June (end of May for VR projects).

Must films be subtitled or dubbed?
All films must be presented exclusively in their original language. The festival will not accept dubbed films. Foreign language films must be subtitled in Italian. Italian language films must be subtitled in English.

Will the press see my film?
Some 3,000 journalists, film critics, and radio and television reporters are attending the Festival and have privileged access to screenings. A film presented at the Festival attracts world attention. The Venice Film Festival has long been an exclusive launching pad for the work of new filmmakers as well as for accomplished personalities.

Does the Festival have a Film Market?
The new Venice Production Bridge (the former Industry Office) headed by Pascal Diot provides the logistics and a framework for promoting and selling films.

How do I get accreditation?
The Festival offers all those working in the cinematographic sector the possibility to apply for accreditation according to their specific area of employment. There are four main types of accreditation: Press, Industry, Film Delegation, and Cinema. Accreditation will be granted according to the respective regulations. Details are available in the Accreditation section.

How do I make a hotel reservation?
For hotel reservations at Lido: Consorzio Venezia e il suo Lido: www.veneziaeilsuolido.it.

Any other questions?
Please contact Cinema@labiennale.org or visit the Festival website (www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/) for the latest updates.

HOW TO REGISTER

When do you open the registration?
It will be possible to submit the requests for accreditation to the 78th Venice International Film Festival starting from January 2021.

Where can I submit my accreditation request?
To submit your accreditation request you need to fill out the online request form related to your professional category (Press, Industry or Cinema) available on the Accreditation page of our website.

Until when can I apply for an accreditation?
It is possible to apply for accreditations until the beginning of the Festival, according to the availabilities, by filling out the online request form. However, it is highly recommended to request and pay the accreditation as soon as possible to benefit of the best rates, and benefit of the offered services, such as the fast track to collect the accreditation badge at the Accreditation Desk.

I’m a minor, can I have an accreditation?
No, the accreditation is reserved to people from 18 years old.

I’ll turn 18 just after the Festival, can I have an accreditation?
No, the accreditation is reserved only to those that will already be 18 during the Festival. It is however possible to attend the Festival by buying tickets to single screenings, unless they are marked as R-rated (18+).

ACCREDITATION TYPOLOGIES

What are the accreditation typologies?
There are three main accreditation typologies dedicated to the different professional categories: Press, Industry and Cinema. In addition to them, there are the Film Delegation accreditations, dedicated to the delegations of the films selected for the Festival, the Promotional Under 26/Over 60 accreditations, dedicated to applicants of the indicated ages, and VR accreditations, exclusively dedicated to the vision of the virtual reality works.
Each typology of accreditation is released accordingly with the respective methods. Terms, conditions and rates are described in the Accreditation section.

I’m a film professional and also a journalist, can I have both accreditations?
No, each person can have only one accreditation.

I’m a film professional, can I have the online access to the Venice Production Bridge activities?
Yes, it is possible by requesting a VPB Online Accreditation. To check the necessary requirements, please visit the Accreditation page.

Can I apply for two different accreditation categories at the same time?
No, requests sent to different offices at the same time to obtain different typologies of accreditation will not be taken into consideration. To verify which kind of accreditation corresponds to your professional profile, please check the Accreditation page.

PAYMENT

Can I pay the accreditation in cash?
No, we accept traceable payment systems such as credit and debit card exclusively.

Can I pay the accreditation when I collect it?
Yes, it is possible to pay the accreditation with credit or debit cards at the moment of the collection at the Accreditation Desk only in the case of Industry typologies and the On Site fee will be applied. To benefit of better rates and of all services granted by the accreditation the online pre-payment is highly recommended.

I need to pay more accreditations, can I do a bank transfer?
No, each accreditation has to be paid separately through debit or credit card.

I need the invoice, do you send it to me?
The invoice will be automatically sent to the applicants that have requested it before the online payment by ticking the relevant field. It’s not possible to request the invoice afterwards.

Do you do concessions on the accreditation costs?
Industry and Cinema accreditations have reduced fees for those who send their accreditation request by 30^th June 2021 and pay the accreditation by 8th July 2021. To check all fees and deadlines, please visit the Accreditation page.

I can’t attend the Festival anymore but I’ve already paid my accreditation, can I have a refund?
It will be possible to receive a 60% refund for the Industy Gold and Trade accreditation requested by 30th June 2021 and paid in advance, in case of cancellations communicated to the Registration Office by and no later than 31st July 2021. It’s also possible to receive a full refund for Industry accreditations in case of entry VISA for Italy denied by the competent authorities, upon presentation of all documentation to the Registration Office. In any other case the accreditation cannot be refunded.

I can’t attend the Festival anymore but I’ve already paid my accreditation, can you change the heading and give it to my friend?
No, changes of names are not admitted. The accreditation is strictly personal and not transferable.

ACCESS

Which screenings can I attend with my accreditation?
Cinema accreditations allow you to attend all screenings marked as “Tutti gli accrediti” with no priority of access. Industry, Film Delegation and Press accreditations allow you to attend all screenings marked as “Tutti gli accrediti” with no priority of access and all screenings marked as “Press Industry” with priority access depending on the badge colour with the order red, blue, orange.
At the screenings marked as “Pubblico / Tutti gli accrediti” priority is given to the audience and subsequently to all accreditations with no priority. The access to all screenings is subject to availability.

How do I access the screenings of the films of the Festival?
All the pass holders will be able to access the screenings of the films of the Festival through an online booking system that will be communicated once the official programme will be defined.

Which is my accreditation code?
The accreditation code is the 8-digit alpha-numeric code indicated in the registration confirmation email for your accreditation. It’s the same used for the online payment and printed on you accreditation pass under the barcode.

Can I attend the press conferences with my accreditation?
Press conferences are reserved to Press accreditation pass holders exclusively, with priority access depending on the badge colour with the order red, blue, orange. In case of availability of places, access is allowed to Industry and Film Delegation accreditation pass holders.

Can I attend the Opening and Closing Ceremonies with my accreditation?
No, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies are by invitation only.

Which areas can I access with my accreditation?
The accreditation allows access to all Festival areas between Palazzo del Cinema and Palazzo del Casinò and to the Exhibition Areas and the free access conferences organized by the Venice Production Bridge at Hotel Excelsior..

DURING THE FESTIVAL

When can I collect my accreditation pass?
Press accreditation can be collected from Monday 30th August. All other accreditation types can be collected from the following day, Tuesday 31st August. In order to collect your accreditation you need to show the registration confirmation email. The opening times of the Accreditation Desk will be published in the Accreditation section in August.

Can I send somebody else to collect my accreditation?
No, the accreditation is strictly personal and not transferable, therefore it must be collected in person. Proxy is not allowed.

I lost my accreditation pass, what do I do?
Loss or theft of the accreditation badge have to be reported to the local police authority. The Registration Office will duplicate the badge, upon presentation of the police report and a new payment of the original fee you paid, within the times of the issuing office.

SIMPLIFIED CREATION OF THE BOXOL.IT ACCOUNT TO RESERVE SEATS FOR SCREENINGS

When filling out the online accreditation form, you will be required to express your preference regarding the simplified creation of your Boxol.it account, necessary to reserve seats for screenings.

USERS ACCREDITED FOR PREVIOUS EDITIONS, WHO ALREADY HAVE A BOXOL.IT ACCOUNT

What happens if I give my consent?
Just like the 2020 edition, for access to the screenings of the films in the programme, accredited visitors at the 78^th Venice Film Festival must reserve their seats using the online Boxol.it reservation system at the following page, as long as seats are available.
By giving your consent, your accreditation for the 2021 Festival will be automatically associated with the Boxol.it account you already have, with no need for further action on your part, and you may use it to reserve your seat at the screenings of the 78^th Venice Film Festival. You will receive a confirmation email from internet@boxol.it

What happens if I don’t give my consent?
To reserve a seat at the screenings to which your accreditation grants you access, you will have to autonomously associate your Accreditation code for the year 2021 to your Boxol.it account in order to access the reservation platform. Denying consent will not limit the use of your accreditation.

I already have a Boxol account but it is associated with a different email address than the one I provided for the year 2021. What happens in this case?
If the account you opened is associated with a different email than the one you provided in your registration form for your 2021 Accreditation, the simplified registration process will invite you to proceed to the creation of a new account associated with your current email address.

If you give your consent, you will receive instructions by email from internet@boxol.it on how to create your new account with the simplified procedure: the simplified registration procedure is available for only 24 hours after you receive the email.

If you do not give your consent, you will have to open a new account autonomously or use your existing account to which you will associate the 2021 Accreditation.
For further information, please consult the FAQ dedicated to users who are requesting accreditation for the first time at the Venice Film Festival.

If I have problems registering the account, who can I contact?
For further information about the Boxol.it platform and how to register your account, you may contact customer assistance at Boxol.it, at the following email address: internet@boxol.it

USERS REQUESTING ACCREDITATION FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE VENICE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

What happens if I give my consent?
For access to the screenings of the films in the programme, accredited visitors at the 78^th Venice Film Festival must reserve their seats using the online Boxol.it reservation system, on the following page, as long as seats are available.
Upon giving your consent, you will receive an email from internet@boxol.it with the instructions on how to create, using a simplified procedure, your personal account to access the services of the Boxol.it platform: the simplified registration procedure is available for only 24 hours after you receive the email. Once you have completed the creation procedure, no further action will be required on your part to access the platform to reserve seats for the screenings.

What happens if I don’t give my consent?
To reserve a seat at the screenings to which your accreditation grants you access, you will have to autonomously create a Boxol.it account in order to access the reservation platform. Denying consent will not limit the use of your accreditation.

I have given my consent. When will I receive the email with the instructions for the simplified creation of an account on Boxol.it?
You will receive the email approximately one hour after your payment has been confirmed and you will have 24 hours to proceed with the simplified registration. Once that deadline has passed, you will have to complete your registration autonomously here.

What happens if I don’t create the account within 24 hours after receiving the email with the instructions?
Boxol.it will cancel the data for your accreditation needed to create your account using the simplified procedure. Your accreditation will not lose validity and you will not have to apply for accreditation again.
You will have to autonomously create your account for access to the Boxol.it platform to reserve your seat for the screenings at the Venice Film Festival. If necessary, you can contact internet@boxol.it.

If I have problems registering the account, who can I contact?
For further information about the Boxol.it platform and how to register your account, you may contact customer assistance at Boxol.it, at the following email address: internet@boxol.it

FILM SUBMISSION

When will submissions open?
Film submissions will open starting from January 18, 2021.

What are the submission deadlines?
The deadline for registering a feature-length film or a short film is June 11, 2021. The deadline to submit VR works is May 31, 2021. The selection screener must also be provided within the respective deadline.

How do I submit my film to the Venice International Film Festival?
You have to register your film through the online pre-selection entry form. Then you will be able to upload the film into the Festival’s streaming platform.

Is it possible to submit via Withoutabox or Filmfreeway?
No, the only way to submit is by filling out the official pre-selection entry form at www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2021.

May I submit if I do not have a production company?
Yes, of course.

Is it possible to submit more than one film?
Yes, you can submit more than one film. For each you need to complete the pre-selection entry form.

May I apply to more than one section or to a specific section?
There is only one general submission form, the Festival Direction will decide in which section your film will be presented in case it is selected. Short films have their own submission form and will be presented in the competitive Orizzonti section. VR projects have their own submission form and will be presented on line in the Venice VR Expanded program.

May I apply with a restored film?
No, restored films are upon invitation only and do not receive submissions.

How can I add or correct the information given in my application?
Please send an email with the updated information to selection@labiennale.org  or, if it is a short film, to orizzonti@labiennale.org, if it is a VR project to venicevr@labiennale.org . Please remember to mention  the title of the film or the registration code in the email object.

Do you accept films submitted in previous years?
No, the Festival does not accept films that have already been considered for past editions, even if they had a different title, different duration, or were previously presented as works in progress.

Do you accept documentaries and animations?
Yes, the Festival accepts documentaries and animations both as full-length films and as short films.

Is the Venice International Film Festival in charge of selecting films for Settimana della Critica (Critics’ Week) and Giornate degli Autori?
No, these are sidebar independent sections with their own regulations and selection committees.

ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS

Which Premiere status must a film have to be eligible for the Venice International Film Festival?
All films presented at the Venice International Film Festival must be World Premieres, this means that a film must have never been shown anywhere publicly.

Are International Premieres admitted in any section?
No, all sections of the Venice International Film Festival, even non competitive ones, will present only films as World Premieres.
Only VR projects may be presented as IP, even though WP will be preferred.

If my film has been presented only in its country of origin, is it eligible?
No, sorry it is not.

Are films presented at national or international film festivals/events eligible?
No, sorry they are not.

If my film has been/will be presented in a film market, is it still eligible?
Yes, but only if it is/will be a private screening by invitation only, with no press admitted.

Are films released on the Internet, broadcast on television or released on DVD or Blu-ray admitted?
No, sorry they are not.

A trailer of my film is already available on the Internet. Is the film still eligible?
Yes, it is. A trailer does not present any breach of our regulations.

When must my film be produced to be eligible?
Only films produced in the twelve months before the Venice International Film Festival are eligible. This means that they must have been completed after September 12, 2020.
However, as a consequence of the particular situation caused by the Covid-19 emergency, the Direction of the Festival reserves the right of considering also films completed before 12 September 2020, as long as they have been produced after 7 September 2019, and provided that they have not had any form of commercial distribution or exhibition on the Internet and that they have not been already submitted with regative result to the selection of the 2020 edition of the Festival.

What are the admitted film durations?
Feature-length films must be no shorter than 60 minutes (credits included).
Short films must be no longer than 20 minutes (credits included).
Films between 21 and 59 minutes are not admitted in any section.

Are TV series eligible for the Venice International Film Festival?
The Festival may occasionally present a TV series in the non-competitive sections Orizzonti Extra or Out of Competition. It must be a world premiere. The Festival will be able to present two episodes, unless it is a mini-series. So you should submit at least two episodes using a single feature-length form.

Do you select commercials or music videos?
No, there are no sections presenting these film categories.

May I submit my film to other festivals during the Venice International Film Festival submission process?
Yes, you may. But please let us know if your film has been selected elsewhere, so we can try and give you an early answer.

SUBMISSION FEE

What is the fee for film submission?
The fee is € 150 for feature-length films, € 70 for short films, if the submission is completed by May 31. The fee for VR projects is € 150, if the submission is completed by April 30.

Are there any additional late fees?
If films are submitted after May 31 there is an additional cost: from June 1 the submission fee for feature-length film is € 175, for short films € 80.
For VR projects submitted from May 1 the fee is € 175 as well.

Are there discounted rates for film students?
Film schools can sumbit their students’ short films at the discounted fee of € 250 for a maximum of 10 submissions. The request must be sent directly from the school to the Cinema Department (selection@labiennale.org), that will assess the school requirements.

Will you refund submission fee if it turns out that my film is not eligible?
No, you cannot get a refund in case your film is not eligible. Therefore please carefully check the eligibility conditions prior to submitting the film.

Do you accept PayPal payments?
No, only payment by credit card is accepted. Please also note that debit cards are not accepted.

Will I receive an invoice for the submission fee?
Yes, you will be sent an invoice a few days after the payment.

SELECTION SCREENER

Which screening formats are accepted for selection?
The Venice International Film Festival accepts screeners of feature-length films via file upload, or shipment of Blu-ray, DVD or DCP. Short films can be submitted only via file upload.
If your film is available only in a different format, please convert it into one of the accepted technical formats before you submit it. HDCAM and QT ProRes files are not accepted.
The technical specifications for selection screener formats are available on the website.
The technical specifications for the Venice VR Expanded selection are available on the website.
If you have any additional technical questions, please contact selection@labiennale.org or (for short films) orizzonti@labiennale.org

How can I get instructions to upload my film?
After paying the submission fee (see below), you will get an email with a link to upload it.

Which size must the video file have to be uploaded?
The maximum size is 5GB.

May I send a link (e.g. Vimeo) instead?
No. The Festival accepts only files uploaded to its own secure streaming platform, however you can take the same data file that is provided on the Vimeo platform and upload it as your selection screener.

May I send my film in more than one format?
No, please just send your film once in one single format.

Do you view trailers?
No, please do not send trailers. The Festival only accepts and views films in their full version.

Do you accept works in progress for selection?
Yes, of course the film can be viewed also if it has not completed post-production or picture lock. Please be sure the film will be finished for the festival delivery date. If in doubt, please get in touch with the festival’s Programming Office.

May I send an updated version of my selection screener at a later date?
You must be authorized by the Programming office to do so. We do not advise to send a first version with the idea of replacing it later. The selection team will not view the same film twice.

Do you need a subtitled version for the selection screenings?
Yes, the Festival needs an English subtitled version for the selection screenings. If the film’s original version is English with strong regional accent or slang vocabulary, that could not be easily understood by non-native speakers, it is recommended to have it subtitled as well.

Can I send subtitles as a separate file?
No, they must be included in the screener.

When do I have to send / upload my film?
The selection screener should be received by the festival within the respective deadlines (June 11, 2021 for full-length and short films - May 31, 2021 for VR projects).

Where do I send my film?
Selection screeners not submitted online should be sent to the following addresses (except short films that may only be uploaded).
Before sending a DCP it is recommended to get in touch with print.traffic@labiennale.org to check on when and where the next screening session will take place.  

La Biennale di Venezia - Settore Cinema
78. MOSTRA INTERNAZIONALE D’ARTE CINEMATOGRAFICA
Ca’ Giustinian - San Marco 1364/A, 30124 Venice
Tel. +39 041 5218878 - Cinema@labiennale.org
From May 24 the address is:
La Biennale di Venezia - Settore Cinema
78. MOSTRA INTERNAZIONALE D’ARTE CINEMATOGRAFICA
Palazzo del Cinema, Lungomare Marconi, 30126 Lido di Venezia
Tel. +39 041 5218878

Is it possible to send DCPs via digital file transfer?
No, it is necessary to ship a CRU, HDD, SSD or USB stick.
Aspera digital transfer may occasionally be allowed in cases of extreme urgency or technical issues. Please contact the festival’s Programming Office (print.traffic@labiennale.org) for further instructions.

Does my DCP need to be protected through KDM (encrypted)?
No, it is not mandatory. The Venice International Film Festival grants the utmost security for your contents, by using its own private screening rooms and by methodically cancelling all viewed DCPs. Anyway, if you want to send encrypted DCPs, please make sure that KDMs reach the Festival by the date of your DCP delivery.

How can I get server certificates to issue KDMs and to which address must I send them?
You can get server certificates from print.traffic@labiennale.org and you must send KDMs to the same address.

Which time window should the KDM cover?
Please issue KDMs valid for at least 15 days from the date of the DCP delivery to the Venice International Film Festival.

Do I get a confirmation on the submission and the arrival of my film?
Yes, you will get a confirmation by email after successful upload or upon shipment delivery.
If you do not receive such confirmation, please get in touch with the Programming Office to verify it has been safely received.

Can I have my screener shipped back to me?
The Festival will not return DVDs, Blu-Rays and USB sticks. DCPs delivered on CRU, SSD, HDD can be returned if requested by September 30, 2021. The shipping will be at your expenses and must be organized through your courier by contacting print.traffic@labiennale.org .

DECISIONS AND NOTIFICATIONS

When will I be notified the selection result regarding my film?
Generally, notifications will be sent out starting from the beginning of July.
In case of urgency – e.g. an invitation to another festival - please get in touch with the Programming Office and they will do their best to deliver an earlier decision.

If my film is not selected, may I get a feedback from the selection team?
Sorry not. Please understand that it is impossible for the Festival to offer a specific explanation for each exclusion, that is the result of a joint and sometimes difficult decision of the selection team.

IF MY FILM IS SELECTED

If my film is selected, do I need to sign an agreement?
Yes, you will receive a link to fill out an entry form (different form the submission form), which will include all detailed information regarding your film and must be signed and sent back to the Venice International Film Festival by July 21^st, 2021.

If my film is selected, when do you need the festival version?
The film’s version for presentation at the festival should arrive in Venice no later than August 16, 2021.

Will copyrights for music or footage included in my film be cleared by the Venice International Film Festival?
No, please make sure to solve all copyrights issues before the film presentation at the Festival.

Which screening formats are requested for festival presentation?
The Festival accepts only DCPs or 35mm prints. You need to send two copies (show copy and backup copy - they must be identical and in the same format).

What kind of subtitles do you request for the festival version?
For their Venice International Film Festival presentation, foreign language films must be subtitled onscreen in Italian, while Italian language films must be subtitled onscreen in English. The Festival will also project English offscreen subtitles for all foreign language films (including English spoken films – to the benefit of the non-native English speaking audience).
In case of films spoken in more than one language, please contact immediately the Programming Office to discuss the most appropriate subtitling.

Will the Festival pay for the subtitling costs?
No sorry, the cost of subtitling your film are at your charge.

Does the Festival cover the shipping costs of the film copies to/from Venice?
No sorry, all shipping costs to and from Venice are at your charge.

What kind of hospitality does the festival offer to invited films?
Generally the Venice Film Festival offers 9 nights to feature films, 6 nights to documentaries, 3 nights to short films in a partner hotel at Lido or in Venice. Hospitality is primarily offered to the directors and actors.

Does the Festival cover travel expenses for the director and/or cast?
No sorry, all travel expenses to Venice are at your charge.

CONTACT US

For further questions the Programming Office will be at your disposal:
Venice Film Festival
Cinema Department
La Biennale di Venezia
Tel. +39 041 5218878
Cinema@labiennale.org