Dear Asian filmmakers, the Venice International Film Festival (Italy) is accepting immersive projects until May 29, short films until June 1, and feature films until June 15, 2023.

About the festival:
The aim of the Festival is to raise awareness and promote international cinema in all its forms as art, entertainment and as an industry, in a spirit of freedom and dialogue. One section is devoted to enhance the restoration works on classic films as a contribution towards a better understanding of the history of cinema in particular to the advantage of young audiences. The Festival is officially recognised by the FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Association).

Sections:
– International Competition
21 feature-length films presented as world premiere.

– Out of Competition
Some of the most important works of the year will be presented in the non-competing section, for a maximum of 20 films; to these will be added the films produced within the Biennale College-Cinema program.

– Orizzonti
An international competition reserved for a maximum of 19 films, dedicated to films that represent the latest aesthetic and expressive trends in international cinema, with special attention to debut films, young or not yet firmly established talents, indie features and lesser-known cinema. The Orizzonti section features 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, called Orizzonti Corti.

– Orizzonti Extra
The section features a selection of up to 10 works of different genres, lengths and targets (provided their length is more than 60 minutes), with a particular attention to works that address specific genres and current production, with the aim of innovating and demonstrating creative originality in the relationship with the public they are meant for.

– Venice Classics
This section features the world premiere screenings of a selection of the finest restorations of classic films carried out 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, for a maximum of 18 titles.

– Venice Immersive
The section is entirely devoted to immersive media and includes all XR means of creative expression. It will be held in presence on the Lazzaretto Vecchio Island (Venice Immersive Island), and will present in competition a maximum of 30 immersive projects as world-premieres or international premieres.

Eligibility:
– Only feature and short films presented as world premieres, and immersive projects presented as world or international premiere, are eligible.
– Films must have been completed after September 11, 2022
– Films shouldn’t have been commercially distributed or exhibited on the internet.
– Films that neither have been previously screened to the public and/ or the press, nor have been presented at any other International film festival or cinematographic event, including those in the country of origin.
– The only screening format accepted will be Digital Cinema Package (DCP).
– For all non-Italian films, we request the submission of a copy subtitled in Italian or in English (including films for which the original language version is in English).
– Submission Fees and Deadlines:
* Feature Films
– From February 1 to May 31, 2023 | 150 Euros
– From June 1 to June 15, 2023 | 175 Euros
* Short Films
– From February 1 to April 30, 2023 | 70 Euros
– From May 1 to June 1, 2023 | 80 Euros
* Immersive Projects
– From February 1 to April 30, 2023 | 150 Euros
– From May 1 to May 29, 2023 | 175 Euros

[As for film schools, the registration fee for short films will be 250 Euro for a maximum of 10 submissions. The request must be sent directly from the school to the Cinema Department (selection@labiennale.org), that will assess the school requirements.]

We recommend filmmakers to read the full Rules and Regulations here: https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2023/regulations

To submit to the festival please visit: https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2023/submitting-film

We remind readers that the 80th Venice International Film Festival will take place from August 30 until September 9, 2023 in Venice, Italy.

To see other Call for Entries please follow the next link: “Call For Entries”