1. The 65th Venice International Film Festival, organised by the Venice Biennale, will be held on the Venice Lido from 27th August to 6th September 2008. The Festival has the official recognition of the FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Associations).

2. The aim of the Festival is to raise awareness and promote all the various aspects of international cinema in all its forms: as art, entertainment and as an industry, in a spirit of freedom and tolerance. As well as all the sections mentioned in the following paragraphs, the Festival will include retrospectives and homages to major figures as a contribution towards raising awareness of the history of cinema.

3. OFFICIAL SELECTION

3.1  Venezia 65

An international competition comprising a maximum of 20 feature films, presented as world premieres.

3.2  Out of Competition

Some of the most important works of the year, and in particular those by directors already established in past editions of the Festival, will be presented in the non-competing section.

A maximum of six Out of Competition films will be screened at around midnight, whose characteristics are particularly suitable for showing at this time of night.

Only feature films presented as world premieres will be admitted. Only in exceptional circumstances will derogations from this rule be allowed for films which have not yet been given public screenings outside their country of origin (or in Italy for Italian films).

3.3  Orizzonti

A section aiming to provide an overview of the new trends in cinema. A maximum of 18 feature films will be presented. This section will also include a maximum of 7 documentary feature films.

Only feature films presented as world premieres will be admitted. Only in exceptional circumstances will derogations from this rule be allowed for films which have not yet been given public screenings outside their country of origin (or in Italy for Italian films).

3.4  Corto Cortissimo

An international competition for short films, screened here as a world premieres or at least never publicly screened outside their country of origin (or in Italy for Italian films). The duration of the shorts must not exceed 30 minutes. Only fiction and animation films will be admitted.

4. INDUSTRY OFFICE

The “Industry Office” is set up during the Festival which places its infrastructures and screening rooms at the disposal of producers and international sales companies. There are specific regulations to be respected in order to participate in the “Industry Office”.

5. INDEPENDENT AND PARALLEL SECTIONS

5.1 Settimana Internazionale della Critica (SIC- International Critics’ Week)

A series of seven or eight films – debut works – independently organized by a commission nominated by the National Syndicate of Italian Film Critics (SNCCI) in accordance with its own regulations.

5.2 Giornate degli Autori (Venice Days)

A series of 10-12 films independently organized by a commission nominated by the Italian Association of Film-makers (ANAC - Associazione Nazionale Autori Cinematografici) and by the Association of Independent Directors and Producers (API - Associazione Autori e Produttori Indipendenti) in accordance with their own regulations.