Clever Geek Handbook

"Venetian Lion" - prize of the Venice Film Festival. The history of the festival, interesting facts

Currently, in the circles of "creative heavenly places" there is an opinion about various film festivals: Cannes - one of the most international, "Venetian Lion" - elitist, Berlin is considered "political". Every year in September, more than 2 weeks on the resort island of Lido appear national flags over the Cinema Palace. The Palazzo del Cinema Hall opens its doors to prominent cinema figures, journalists from around the world, actors and directors who have come from different countries, claiming the main prize - the Golden Lion figurine.

The symbol of Venice

The story of the birth of the film festival

Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica (Venice Film Festival) is one of the oldest film festivals in the world held in Venice (Northern Italy, Lido Island) as part of the Biennale - a creative contest among various arts. The international film festival "Venetian Lion" was first held in August 1932.

Giuseppe Volpi Misurata (President of the Biennale), as well as Luciano De Feo, became the founders of the film competition.

In the hotel "Excelsior" with more than 25 thousand visitors passed the 1st "Venetian Lion". The film festival was not of a competitive nature and presented the following paintings for display:

  1. "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" dir. Ruben Mamulyan (the very first of the presented films).
  2. "Grand Hotel" dir. Edmund Goulding.
  3. "It Happened Once" dir. Frank Capra
  4. Frankenstein dir. James Wales.
  5. "Earth" dir. A. Dovzhenko.

And other paintings, which later became classics of cinema.

In 1937, the opening of the new Cinema Palace, designed by architect Luigi Quagliato.

Mussolini Cup

Initially, the Venice Festival was conceived as a democratic event with the arrival of representatives of various countries, regardless of the political orientation of a particular state. And in 1932, filmmakers from Europe, America and Russia (a total of 9 countries) brought 29 full-length novelties to Venice.

The first festival was a resounding success; the second, organized in 1934, has already received 40 works from filmmakers from 17 countries. Such a large-scale event was attended by more than 300 correspondents from around the world.

But in the 30s of the twentieth century, Italy was ruled by the dictatorial regime of B. Mussolini, who influenced the results of the competition and the awarding of awards, noting only those who corresponded to the "correct" ideology.

Therefore, the “Mussolini Cup” was the main prize for a period from 1934 to 1942. The first to receive this award was Robert J. Flaherty for the documentary “The Man from Aran” reflecting the reality of those times.

Since 1935, the festival under the leadership of Ottavio Crozet has received annual status. The award for acting was called the Volpi Cup. The history of the festival was interrupted twice:

  1. During the war years of the Second World War 1943-45.
  2. In the late 60s for a while.
Alfonso Cuaron "Golden Lion" movie "Roma"

The advent of the Golden Lion

For the period of hostilities, the festival lost its significance, but in 1947 it was held again and recognized as one of the most successful in the history of its existence. Over the next 2 years, the main prize is the "Grand International Prize of Venice", then since 1949 it becomes the "Golden Lion of St. Mark" - the symbol of Venice.

After there was an out of competition period when the Golden Lion of the Venice Film Festival was not awarded (1969-1979). During this period of time, only a few films received medals.

A new round of development and awarding begins in 1980, when within the framework of the Golden Lion festival, not only full-length competitions were organized, but also short films, documentaries and children's films. Under the mandatory conditions for participation, the work should not be shown outside the country of origin and not be a participant in any other competitions.

Panoramic view of the area

The general program of the festival

The "Venetian Lion" includes several components:

  • Main competition;
  • "Horizons" - where the winner of the documentary and feature film is determined;
  • Corto Cortussimo - the struggle of short films;
  • viewing out of competition works;
  • independent and parallel cinema, the program of which includes: a week of international criticism, a "competition" of auteur cinema;
  • Film market - the period of concluding contracts and movie studios selling their films for rent.
Press, Photographers, Reporters

Other awards of the Venetian festival

Today, no more than 20 paintings are allowed to participate. Films are selected by a special commission of film and art experts led by the director of the festival. Nominee paintings remain unknown until they are officially announced. The jury includes 7-9 competent representatives. In addition to the Golden Lion, the winners are awarded:

  • The Silver Lion of the Venice Film Festival - for directing;
  • "Volpi Cup" - for the performance of roles;
  • "Prize M. Mastroianni" - awarded to young actors;
  • "Ozella" - award for the script, camera, technical work;
  • special prize for contribution to cinema.

"Horizons" - the decision is made by 3-5 members of the jury, awards:

  • Orizzonti - feature film;
  • Orizzonti DOC - Documentary.

Among the short films are allowed to tape less than half an hour, the jury consists of 3 people, the presentation of awards takes place in three categories:

  • Corto Cortissimo - short meter;
  • UIP - European short film;
  • Special Mention - special prize.

Interesting fact! The Blue Lion is a separate prize introduced in 2007 for the best homosexual film. The initiator was the president of the CinemArt Association, Daniel Casagrande.

Grand Prize

Extra Prizes and Luigi Di Laurentis Award

There are also awards given to contestants outside the official ceremony. In agreement with the organizers, public organizations, associations of film critics, various societies are entitled to receive additional prizes.

Debutants representing a core or independent program may qualify for the Luigi Di Laurentis Prize. The winner of this nomination is determined by a joint decision of 7 members of the jury. Prize 100 thousand dollars go to the director and producer in half.

The best of the best

In Venice, the selection of films is approached very carefully. no matter how strong the Golden Lion winners of the Venice Film Festival were, nobody was able to receive the award more than two times. And twice there are only 4 winners: representatives of France - Louis Mal, Andre Cayat and representatives of China - Ang Lee, Zhang Yimou.

Interesting fact! Most often, the winner is original, elitist, requiring deep preparation for the perception of cinema.

Among the most famous laureates of all time who received the "Venetian Lion", films:

  1. 1948 Hamlet dir. Lawrence Olivier, UK.
  2. 1951 "Rashomon" dir. Akira Kurosawa, Japan.
  3. 1961 "Last Year" dir. Alain Rene, France.
  4. 1964 "Red Desert" dir. Michelangelo Antonioni, Italy.
  5. 1967 "Daytime Beauty" dir. Luis Bunuel.
  6. 1983 "Name Carmen" dir. Jean-Luc Godard, France.
  7. 1990 "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" dir. Tom Stoppard, UK.
  8. 1993 "Three colors: blue" dir. Krzysztof Keslowski, France-Poland.
  9. 2005 "Brokeback Mountain" dir. Ang Lee, China.
  10. 2017 "The form of water" dir. Guillermo del Toro et al.
Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem

Our laureates

The Venetian award is the most prestigious and coveted. Among our compatriots who participated in the film festival, the Golden Venetian Lions were taken with them as follows:

  1. The film "Petersburg Night", "Thunderstorm" dir. G. Roshal, "Funny Guys" dir. G. Alexandrov, "Outskirts" dir. B. Barnet, doc / f "Chelyuskin" dir. V. Mikosha (program of the Soviet Union) - "Mussolini Cup", 1934
  2. "Oath" dir. M. Chiaureli - "Gold Medal", 1946
  3. "Ivan childhood" dir. A. Tarkovsky - 1962
  4. A. Golovnya “The Golden Lion” for his contribution to cinema, 1972
  5. S. Yutkevich “Golden Lion” for his contribution to cinema, 1982
  6. "Ugra - Territory of Love" dir. N. Mikhalkov, 1991
  7. "Return" dir. A. Zvyagintsev, 2003 - prize "Luigi Di Laurentis".

Interesting fact! Since 2007, the Blue Lion prize has been introduced for homosexual films. In 2009, Tom Ford received it for the film “The Lonely Man”, and in 2011 the figurine went to Al Pacino for the painting “Salome Wilde”.

"Silver Lions" were obtained for the following tapes:

  1. "A ticket to life" directed by N. Ekka (best directing), 1932
  2. "Spring" G. Alexandrov, A. Raskin, M. Slobodskaya (best script), 1947
  3. "Sadko" dir. A. Ptushko, 1953
  4. "The Leader" dir. S. Samsonov - “Silver Lion” and the prize of film critics Pasinetti Award 1955
  5. "The Clown" dir. I. Evteeva (best short film), 2002
  6. "Oil" dir. R. Ibragimbekov (best short film), 2003
  7. "Paper Soldier" dir. A. German Jr. (the best directing is “Silver Lion”, “Golden Ozella” - the work of camera directors M. Drozdov, A. Khamidkhodzhaev), 2008
  8. "The White Nights of the Postman Alexei Tryapitsyn" "dir. A. Konchalovsky (best directing), 2014
  9. "Paradise" dir. A. Konchalovsky (best directing) 2016

Other prizes and prizes:

  1. "Peace to the incoming" A. Alov and V. Naumov - Special Jury Prize, 1961

  2. "Introduction" I. Talankin - Special Jury Prize, 1962

  3. “Such a guy lives” V. Shukshin - “The Lion of St. Mark” (the best film for children), 1964

  4. "Hamlet" G. Kozintsev - Special Jury Prize, 1964
  5. "Fidelity" P. Todorovsky - Prize for the best debut, 1965
  6. "Enchanted Islands" A. Zguridi - "The Lion of St. Mark" (the best dock / f d / children), 1965
  7. "Morozko" A. Rowe - "The Lion of St. Mark" (the best f / d for children), 1965
  8. "I am twenty years old" M. Khutsiev - Special Jury Prize, 1965
  9. “They Call, Open the Door” A. Mitt - “The Lion of St. Mark” (the best f / d for children), 1966
  10. "Rescuer" S. Soloviev - Special Jury Diploma, 1980
  11. "Private Life" M. Ulyanov received a Special Jury Prize for Ch. role, dir. Yu. Raizman, 1982
  12. "Favorites of the Moon" O. Ioseliani (France-Italy-USSR) - Special Grand Prix of the jury, 1984
  13. "Alien White and Pockmarked" S. Soloviev - Special Grand Prix of the jury, 1986
  14. "Black Monk" I. Dykhovichny received Vadim Yusov for the work of the director of photography "Golden Ozella", 1988
  15. "House of Fools" A. Konchalovsky - Special Grand Prix of the jury, 2002
  16. "The Last Train" A. Herman Jr. - prize of Luigi Di Laurentis, 2003
  17. "First on the Moon" A. Fedorchenko - Prize for the best dock / f "Horizons", 2005
  18. Oatmeal A. A. Fedorchenko - Ecumenical Jury Prize, Golden Ozella was awarded to Director of Photography M. Krichman (best visual solution), 2010

Volpi Cup Holders (Best Actors):

  • K. Rappoport "Double Time" dir. J. Capatondi, 2009
  • O. Borisov "The Only Witness", 1990
  • N. Arinbasarova "The First Teacher", 1966
  • D. Ritenberg "Malva", 1958
  • E. Leonov "Autumn Marathon", 1979
"Main house" of the festival

Today, the Venice Film Festival is one of the most respected, it actually determines the fashion for cinema.

More articles:


All Articles