Roberto Cicutto

It would have been great to have been able to write these lines of introduction to the 78th Venice International Film Festival of the La Biennale di Venezia without speaking of Covid.
Unfortunately, that is not possible and once again we are having to cope with the restrictions and safety measures required to ensure the health of all the participants (operators and spectators) and the workers who, from the mounting to the dismantling of the theaters and the necessary services, will for the second time be carrying out their duties at the Lido wearing masks.
We already gave our response last year, however, by succeeding in holding the festival when the virus was still a “mysterious object”: something that was acknowledged the world over as a great achievement.
The year 2021 has been a “better” one for major cultural events. In our own case, we have managed to open the International Architecture Exhibition and the Festivals of Theater and Dance.
Great rehearsals for the Film Festival, which will benefit from the protection of a larger number of vaccinated people. It has proved possible to hold other important festivals with live audiences, as well as music events and theatrical performances.
What have not yet been solved, however, are the problems of a complete resumption of activities in movie theaters, playhouses and concert halls. The festivals are held for them too, so that on their reopening they will find “products” enriched by promotion and critical review.

In Venice Cinema takes the center stage once again with the selection made by the festival’s director Alberto Barbera and his collaborators, which presents titles of great appeal, as is evident from the interest shown by the international press. In the end, as is only right, the films will speak for themselves. But I would like to remind readers that behind those films there are people: authors, actors, producers, skilled technicians and simple workers. We are happy to be able to show the results of the contribution of each one of them at an event that attracts international attention and we hope that after the festival many will be able to see these films in the theaters, or on their screens at home.
This in the end is what a festival is all about: serving as a powerful vehicle for the dissemination of cinematic culture and the performing arts.
The Venice Film Festival, nearing the ninetieth year since its founding, has always made talent the focus of its attention, whether confirming that of well-known artists or discovering new ones.
To this is added reflection on a constantly evolving industry that is tackling the digital revolution: a revolution that is radically changing techniques of filmmaking and expanding modes of distribution. But talent remains the prerogative of the people who use all these means to reach the public, maintaining their creative freedom intact.
It is with this spirit that we welcome to Venice all those who will be presenting their works and the people who will be watching them, who from this year can also be members of the jury with the new award instituted for the Orizzonti Extra section.

I would like to thank all the institutions, the Ministero della Cultura, the Region of Veneto, the Municipality of Venice and the Soprintendenza Archeologia, belle arti e paesaggio per il Comune di Venezia e Laguna, as well all those who have contributed to the safety and success of the Festival. My thanks go too to the sponsors who have lent their support to the Festival.
I will conclude with the same words with which we ended the festival last year: “What we are able to do we have done with the contribution of everyone—authors, operators, press, public—thanks to the sense of responsibility that every single participant has assumed, creating a community capable of overcoming isolation.”