Venice Days: Venice has its directors fortnight!

VENICE FILM FESTIVAL 2004: VENICE DAYS

For the first time in the history of the Venice Film Festival, the Italian authors from ANAC (the National Association of Cinematographic Authors,) and API (Independent Authors and Producers) are launching an independent showcase for quality cinema as part of the Festival. It’s called Giornate degli Autori / Venice Days and the event will be taking place with the agreement of the Venice Film Festival board, though it will also have complete autonomy with regards to its choices, organisation, and programme presentation.
The Giornate degli Autori / Venice Days section is modelled on the Cannes Quinzaine des Réalisateurs and the Berlin Forum. It will be taking place at the Venice Lido (Sala Palagalileo) from September 2 to 11, and this first edition is dedicated to the cinema of "The Great Europe". Every day we shall present one film and one author, up to a maximum of 12 films over the whole duration of the Venice Film Festival. The event's protagonists will be European directors, together with Italian authors, directors, producers, industry professionals and cinema lovers. An exclusive Authors' Villa (right by the Excelsior Hotel) has been reserved for the occasion, and will be the venue for a programme of daily meetings, special events and also a bit of healthy entertainment to honour the “craft of cinema making”. The films chosen by the event’s director, Giorgio Gosetti, in collaboration with an international committee of consultants, will be announced during the official press conference to be held in Rome on July 30. The films will be competing for the “Label Europa Cinémas” for cinema promotion in Europe, and any first works will be running for the "Luigi De Laurentiis Prize" along with all other debut films from the other official sections.

The closing date for films to apply for the selection process is July 15.