Venice: The city of the "Biennale"

Venice - Mohamed Hashem Abdelsalam

For many centuries, Venice , or “Venezia,” as it is pronounced in Italian, has been considered the city of arts, dancing, and celebration, and everything new and distinguished in these fields. For many, its name is synonymous with its oldest and most prestigious film festival in the world. Although many different celebrations are held there annually. Knowing that its streets have witnessed every year, since the 17th century, one of the most important international carnivals. About 3 million visitors participate in it, and it is distinguished by traditional costumes, and of course the famous “Venetian” masks, linked to the history of the carnival since its founding. The number of days varies from year to year, sometimes extending over 3 weeks, but most often it is held for two weeks, between the end of January and the end of February.

In addition to this famous and ancient carnival, the Italian language introduced the word “ biennale ” to the world (meaning once every two years), and Venice created its very own concept of “biennale” art festivals. Such as: “La Biennale di Venezia”, which was founded in 1895 and oversees many festivals. The first of which is the “Biennale of Fine Arts and Architecture.” Then the “Music Biennale” was established in 1930, and the “Theatre and Cinema Biennale” in 1934. However, since 2000, architecture has separated from art, and each of them has its own “biennale.” In 1999, the “International Contemporary Music Festival” was established, and 10 years later, the “Children’s Carnival” and the “Contemporary Dance Festival” were launched. Since then, the name of the “Biennale” was changed and became “The Biennale Foundation.” Although the name “Venice Biennale” is still used to describe all the exhibitions and festivals organized by the institution.

What is very striking is that the word “biennial,” as a description, is appropriate for architecture and the arts, for example. There is nothing wrong with using them (each of these arts has a festival that is held once every two years). But the error lies in using it to describe the film festival, which is held annually. It is true that it began as a “biennale,” as its first session was held in 1932, and the second in 1934, but this does not negate the error in describing it with that term. It is more accurate to adopt the correct name, in Italian, English and French: “Venice International Film Festival.” Avoid using the long, complex and insignificant name: Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia.

Since the beginning of the Biennale“All its festivals and celebrations are held in the corridors of the Arsenal, or the buildings of the old naval arsenal, located at the far end of the Old City. This is with the exception of the film festival, which - since its founding by the businessman and politician Giuseppe Volpi, and in whose name the “Volpi Cup” award is awarded to “Best Actor/Actress” - has chosen the island of “Lido”, which is about 40 minutes away from Piazza San Marco and the old town. And from the main train station, about 60 minutes. In the “Lido”, where the “Venice International Film Festival” celebrates its 80th session this year (August 30 - September 9, 2023), things are completely different. The festival, which was stopped more than once throughout its history, either due to the outbreak of World War II (1939-1945), or for political and financial reasons, did not use any previous buildings as its headquarters or for its performances, as all of its buildings have accompanied it since its founding, despite the rigid fascist character. However, the Italian artistic touches addressed the stagnation and ugliness of these buildings, with the passage of time and successive restorations, and gave them remarkable aesthetics. The Grande Hall is the oldest hall at the festival. It was opened in the fifth session in 1937, but it underwent many restoration and renovation works, the last of which was in 2011, when it was restored to exactly what it was when it was opened, with the same structure, materials and designs, with one addition: the number of its seats increased from 1019 to 1032. As for the “ The neighboring “Darcina”, which opened in the 1950s and was an open hall, has been covered and developed more than once, most recently 7 years ago, and includes 1,409 seats, and is the oldest after “Grande”.

Every year, visitors to the festival experience renewal and development in the surroundings of its events, known as Casino Square, or Marconi Square. It is also noted that the Municipality of Venice, in cooperation with the Biennale's Board of Directors, spends generously on logistical support for the festival, almost annually. For example, last year the area surrounding the Festival Palace and the press headquarters was paved and decorated according to the distinguished taste of Italian interior designers. Also, a café and restaurant suitable for the festival were opened, limited only to journalists, inside the historic building still called “The Casino.” Although it stopped being a “casino” for gambling many years ago. It has now turned into a practical headquarters for journalists and a conference hall, and hosts most of the “Critics Week” or “Author Days” presentations.

Also, after setting up the Garden Cinema, or “Gardini”, about 7 years ago, which is detachable and installable (446 seats), we were surprised two years ago with another cinema of the same type. Corinto (340 seats), never far away, is set above a covered swimming pool. In short, the number of Venice halls exceeds 9. Its smallest hall has 48 seats, and the largest, the “Pala Biennale” tent, 1770. From here, it is noted that the festival’s activities and film screenings at the various events are shown without crowding or difficulty, whether the “main competition” or the “outside the competition” section in the two Grande halls. And Darsena, or the “Horizons” and “Horizons Extension” demonstrations in the Darsena, Gardeni, and Pala Biennale galleries, or the “Critics Week” and “Author’s Days” demonstrations, in the Volpi, Perla, Pala Biennale, Corinto, and other galleries.

It is known that the Venice Film Festival awards the “Golden Lion,” the “Silver Lion,” and others. The design of the award as known is not an innovation of the festival, as some might imagine. Simply put, the festival uses the emblem of the city of Venice throughout its history as its symbol. The logo originally came with the founding of the “San Marco” Cathedral in the heart of the old city, and represents the face of Saint Marcos and the body of a winged lion. Saint Marcus is, in fact, Saint Mark of Egypt. Not many people know that there are many of his belongings in the cathedral. As for the body, which was stolen from ancient Egypt to be placed in the cathedral, the Egyptian government recovered it after demanding it. From this slogan, the festival derived its logo and design for its awards.

Unlike the most important “Main Competition” of the festival, the “Horizons” section is the major event parallel to the main competition, and is the counterpart to the “Un Certain Regard” section at Cannes, or the “Panorama” section at the Berlin Film Festival. It usually screens 18 feature films competing for the department's awards. In the recently introduced “Afaq Extra” or “Afaq Extension” section, 9 films are usually shown. Most of the films shown in the two sections are by female and male directors presenting first or second works that are truly worth following and discovering.

The Italian Film Critics Union also holds an annual event entitled “Critics Week.” This important event has been taking place for 38 years. It is not completely separate from the festival, nor is it held far from its activities, as happens in the “Critics Week” demonstration at the Cannes or Berlin festivals. The Venice Film Festival hosts the event, places it on its main screening schedule, and films are screened in the festival halls themselves. The selection of films for the demonstration is supervised by five members of the Critics Union, in addition to the president of the union. The week awards the best film award, based on the audience’s choice. And also the “Lion of the Week” award for the most promising director. The aim of the week is to shed light on the first works of young directors, and to introduce producers and the world to their productions and names. On the other hand, the event will screen, on its sidelines, 10 of the latest Italian short films signed by young directors, before the start of each of the main screenings.

As for the “Authors’ Days” demonstration, which was founded twenty years ago by the “Society of Independent Film Authors and Producers,” its program is the largest in terms of its sections. The event has a “main competition” in which 11 films are screened. And the “Special Events” section, which displays 7 films. And “Venice Nights” shows 8 films. “Special Offers” shows 5 films.

In addition to these main programs and competitions, there are other activities and more than one section, which are no less important. For example, the “Venice Classics” section displays newly restored and restored classics, and the section awards an annual award for the best restored film. Also, the “Virtual Screenings” section, the “Special Screenings” section, and the “College Cinema Biennale”, which is an Italian and international training section in which young people and students display their works. This is in addition to awards meetings and seminars, photographic art exhibitions, cinema classes, and many other non-cinematic promotional events, screenings and celebrations.