The Board of Directors of the Biennale di Venezia, chaired by Paolo Baratta, has approved the Regulations of the 70th Venice International Film Festival (28 August – 7 September 2013), following the recommendations of Director Alberto Barbera.

The following are the principal changes in the Regulations:

  · for the Venezia 70 Competition, a new award has been introduced: the Grand Jury Prize (and the award for Best Technical Contribution has been eliminated)

  · for the Orizzonti section two new awards have been introduced: the Orizzonti Prize for Best Director and the Special Orizzonti Prize for innovative content

  · the introduction of the new section Venice Classics, dedicated to restored films and documentaries about cinema, has been confirmed and formalized, following its debut during the previous edition of the Venice Film Festival

  · the number of members of the Jury of the Competition for the Golden Lion has been set at 9 (previously from 7 to 9), and at 7 for the members of the Orizzonti Jury and the Jury of the “Luigi De Laurentiis” Prize for a Debut Film (previously from 5 to 7).
 

International competition for a maximum of 20 feature-length films presented as world premiere screenings

 

The Out-of-Competition section presents some of the most significant films of the year, for a maximum of 12 titles; in particular, works by established authors who have participated in Competition in previous editions of the Venice Film Festival, or films in which the spectacular dimension is accompanied by original forms of expression or narration. Some of the films Out of Competition may be screened during the Midnight time slot, if their characteristics make them particularly suitable for showing at this time of night. Only feature films presented as world premieres at the Venice Film Festival will be admitted.

 

An international competition reserved for a maximum of 20 films, dedicated to films that represent the latest aesthetic and expressive trends in international cinema, with special attention to debut films, young emerging talents who are not yet firmly established, independent and lesser-known cinema, as well as works that address specific genres and current production, with the aim of innovating and demonstrating creative originality. The Orizzonti section contains a selection of competing short films lasting a maximum of 20 minutes, selected on the basis of criteria such as quality and originality of language and expression. Only feature-length and short films presented as world premieres at the Venice Film Festival will be admitted.

 

This section features a selection of the finest restorations of classic films completed over the past year by film libraries, cultural institutions and productions around the world, committed to the preservation and cultivation of the cinematographic heritage and the rediscovery of neglected or undervalued works of the past. The section may be completed with the presentation of documentaries about cinema or individual authors of yesteryear or today, that can offer innovative elements of historical and/or critical assessment.

 

For the second year in a row, the Venice Film Market will be organized during the Festival: it will place its structures and screening rooms at the disposal of producers, vendors and international buyers, for the sale and purchase of films including those not officially invited to the Festival. Participation in the Venice Film Market is subject to specific regulations.
 

 

A series of no more than 8 films – debut works – independently organised by a commission nominated by the National Syndicate of Italian Film Critics (SNCCI) in accordance with its own regulations.

 

A series of no more than 12 films, independently promoted by the Italian filmmakers association (ANAC) and by the Associazione 100 Autori, in accordance with their own regulations.

 

An International Jury, composed of 9 personalities from the world of cinema and culture from various countries, excluding any person involved in any capacity in the creation of the invited films or who may have an interest in their distribution, will award the following prizes for feature-length films:

- Golden Lion for Best Film

- Silver Lion for Best Director

- Grand Jury Prize

- Coppa Volpi for Best Actor

- Coppa Volpi for Best Actress

- “Marcello Mastroianni” Award for Best New Young Actor or Actress

- Award for Best Screenplay
- Special Jury Prize

 

No joint prizes will be awarded, with the sole exceptions of the two Coppa Volpi awards and the Marcello Mastroianni award. Furthermore, each film may receive no more than one of the awards mentioned in the Regulations. However, in exceptional cases, and after consultation with the Festival Director, the Jury may confer the Coppa Volpi and Marcello Mastroianni awards to actors or actresses featured in films which have been awarded the Silver Lion, the Grand Jury Prize, the Special Jury Prize or the Award for Best Screenplay.

 

An International Jury, composed of 7 personalities from the world of cinema and culture from various countries, excluding any person involved in any capacity in the creation of the invited films or who may have an interest in their distribution, will award the following prizes, with no joint prizes allowed:

- Orizzonti Award for Best Film

- Orizzonti Award for Best Director

- Special Orizzonti Jury Prize

- Special Orizzonti Award for Innovative Content

- Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film

All the debut feature films presented in the various competitive sections of the Venice Film Festival (Official Selection and Independent and Parallel Sections) are eligible for the Lion of the Future – “Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award for a Debut Film. An International Jury of 7 personalities selected from the world of cinema and culture from various countries, including one producer, will award a prize of 100,000 US dollars, donated by Filmauro, to be divided equally between the director and the producer. No joint prizes will be allowed.

The Director of the Festival will present his recommendation to the President and Board of Directors to award one Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement (in exceptional circumstances two Lions may be assigned).
 

For the selection process, the Director of the Venice Film Festival Alberto Barbera will be assisted by the following Consultants and experts: Giulia D'Agnolo Vallan, Bruno Fornara, Mauro Gervasini, Oscar Iarussi, Nicola Lagioia, Marina Sanna.

The Correspondents for the Venice Film Festival around the world are: Giulia d'Agnolo Vallan (USA, Canada), Violeta Bava (South America), Elena Pollacchi (China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea), Paolo Bertolin (the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia), Petr Shepotinnik (Russia), and Mohammad Atebbai (Iran).