Actress Serena Rossi to receive the 2026 Campari Passion for Film Award

La Biennale di Venezia and Campari are pleased to announce that the Italian actress Serena Rossi (Mina Settembre, Il treno dei bambini, Ammore e malavita) is the recipient of the Campari Passion for Film Award at the 83^rd Venice International Film Festival (September 2^nd - 12^th, 2026).

Campari’s commitment to supporting film professionals continues with the Campari Passion for Film Award — an accolade created to honor the talent, dedication, and bold artistic vision of those who transform passion into a driving creative force. This award, presented in collaboration with the Artistic Direction of Biennale Cinema, honors those who turn passion into a driving creative force — not simply as a lifetime achievement, but as a tribute to the will to stand out and leave an indelible mark on the art of cinematic storytelling.

The ceremony for the award to Serena Rossi will take place on Thursday September 10^th in the Sala Grande (Palazzo del Cinema) at 9.30 pm, before the screening Out of Competition of Scherzetto (Trick, Italy, 116’) by Mario Martone in which Serena Rossi stars alongside Toni Servillo, Lorenzo Perrotta, Leonardo Lidi, Giovanni Ludeno and Gianluca Di Gennaro.

Scherzetto (Trick) is the new film by Mario Marione, produced by Mad Entertainment with Rai Cinema, in association with EDI Effetti Digitali Italiani and Picomedia.

The 83^rd Venice International Film Festival of La Biennale di Venezia will be held on the Lido from September 2^nd to 12^th, 2026, directed by Alberto Barbera.

Serena Rossi, in accepting the offer, declared: “To me, it is always a great joy to return to the Lido. Many unforgettable memories tie me to this place, first of all the wonderful experience I had conducting the opening and closing nights, and it is a true honor to receive the Campari Passion for Film Award. I want to sincerely thank the President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, the Director Alberto Barbera, and La Biennale di Venezia for their esteem and for this recognition. Passion, the spur to constantly put myself to the test and to search for that authentic connection with the public, have always been the one, true guiding purpose of my work. To return here, this time in the company of maestro Mario Martone, Toni Servillo, and the rest of the cast to present Scherzetto (Trick), makes this Festival even more special for me.”

Alberto Barbera, Director of the Venice International Film Festival, notes, “The Campari Passion for Film Award to Serena Rossi celebrates an artist who has turned cinema and performing arts not merely into a profession, but into a true expression of passion, artistic exploration, and connection with the audience. An actress, singer, and performer of extraordinary sensitivity, she has crossed diverse genres and mediums, consistently demonstrating an ability to bring naturalness and authenticity to every role she plays. Her characters combine vulnerability and determination, irony and emotion, energy and grace. From cinema to television, comedy to drama, voice acting to music, she has displayed a versatility that is never mere transformation, but the outcome of profound artistic curiosity and a genuine commitment to her craft. These qualities make her a free and curious artist, capable of constantly challenging herself and taking on new ventures without ever losing her identity”.

"We are proud to once again confirm the Campari Passion for Film Award, a recognition established in collaboration with the Artistic Direction of the Venice Film Festival to celebrate those who, through their talent and creative vision, contribute to making cinema an experience that moves audiences and leaves a lasting mark," said Alberto Ponchio, Senior Marketing Director, Campari Group. "Red Passion has always been Campari’s defining hallmark: an authentic force that inspires creativity, courage, and talent. In Serena Rossi, we fully recognize these values. Through her extraordinary ability to engage audiences, portray intense and multifaceted characters, and bring to life stories that both move and surprise, Serena embodies the spirit of passion and authenticity that unite great cinema and the world of Campari. An artistic journey that the Campari Passion for Film Award is proud to celebrate at this year’s edition of the Festival."

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The Campari Passion for Film Award, born eight years ago at the 75^th edition of the Venice Film Festival, has over the years been awarded to American film editor Bob Murawski, Italian cinematographer Luca Bigazzi, American composer Terence Blanchard, British production designer Marcus Rowland, American costume designer Arianne Phillips, Italian production designers Tonino Zera and Paola Comencini and American director Gus Van Sant.

An actress, singer, and TV host, Serena Rossi debuted in theatre at 16 years of age; success arrived with TV series such as Il Commissario Montalbano (Detective Montalbano) and Adriano Olivetti, and in cinema with the movies Song ‘e Napule (Song of Napoli), Ammore e Malavita (Love and Bullets), La Tristezza ha il sonno leggero (Sadness Has a Light Sleep), and Lasciami andare (You Came Back), to name just a few. Serena received her definitive consecration as an actress and singer thanks to her portrayal of Mia Martini in the film Io sono Mia. As a dubber, she has lent her voice to various Walt Disney characters. During this same period, she also began her career as a television host. Since 2021, she is Mina Settembre, the social worker in the TV blockbuster on Rai1.  Always in 2021, Serena was chosen by the Biennale di Venezia to host the opening and closing nights of the 78^th Venice Film Festival and she was also in the cast of Diabolik, directed by the Manetti Bros. In 2022, she starred in the successful series on Rai1 La Sposa (The Bride), she hosted Danza con Me starring Roberto Bolle, and she starred in the Sky Original comedy Beata Te. In 2023, she was a guest star in an episode of the Sky series Call my Agent 2. She also co-starred in the Netflix film directed by Cristina Comencini Il treno dei Bambini (The Children’s Train), released in 2024; she was in the cast of Uonderbois (Wonderboys: the Secret Treasure of Naples) for Disney, in which she plays the role of a bad guy. In 2025, she lent her voice to the evil witch in the Disney movie Snow White, and she appeared in Italy’s most prestigious theatres with her first stage show, SereNata a Napoli, which she created. She was also in the cast of the TV series La Famiglia Panini - L’Avventura delle Figurine, produced by Indigo Film in collaboration with Rai Fiction, which will air on Rai1; and she shot the movie for Netflix Non abbiamo bisogno di Parole (Feel My Voice), based on the film La Famille Belier, which was released in 2026. On January 30, 2026, her first record was released, SereNata a Napoli (Warner Music Italy), a collection of the most intense pieces she has performed onstage, and her tour of the same-titled show is ongoing. Always in 2026, she shot the film Scherzetto directed by Mario Martone, and the Rai TV series L’Ombra by the Manetti Bros.