Settimana Internazionale della Critica

Settimana Internazionale della Critica
Name	Settimana Internazionale della Critica
Location	Venice, Italy
Founded	1988
Founders	Venice Film Festival critics' association
Awards	Critics' prizes
Language	Italian, international

Settimana Internazionale della Critica is an independent sidebar of the Venice Film Festival dedicated to discovering emerging film directors and debut features. Established in 1988 by a collective of Italian film critics, the section emphasizes first and second works from directors worldwide, premiering films alongside events such as the Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica di Venezia and attracting attention from institutions like the Cannes Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, and Toronto International Film Festival. It functions as a showcase where new talents intersect with film industry professionals, including representatives from the European Film Promotion, Sundance Institute, and national film bodies such as the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia.

History

Set up in 1988 by the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists and independent critics in response to trends at the Venice Biennale, the sidebar sought to parallel initiatives like the Directors' Fortnight at Cannes Film Festival and the Critics' Week at Cannes. Early editions screened works by directors who later engaged with festivals such as the Locarno Film Festival, Rotterdam International Film Festival, and the Telluride Film Festival. Over decades the program intersected with prominent movements represented by auteurs linked to the New Italian Cinema resurgence and international currents associated with the Dogme 95 manifesto, the New German Cinema circle, and the New Wave legacies. Institutional shifts within the Biennale di Venezia influenced its statutory independence, while collaborations with bodies like the European Film Academy and the International Federation of Film Critics expanded its profile. Landmark years featured films that later received recognition at the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and BAFTA Awards.

Organization and Selection Process

The section is curated by an editorial board composed of members from national and international critic organizations including the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists, the FIPRESCI network, and independent programmers with backgrounds at the British Film Institute, Cinémathèque Française, and the Museum of Modern Art (New York). Submission guidelines prioritize first and second features, with eligibility criteria mirroring practices at the Venice Film Festival and aligning with distribution frameworks used by companies such as MUBI, Netflix, and art-house distributors like Kino Lorber and Janus Films. The selection process includes regional scouting at markets such as the European Film Market, American Film Market, and festivals including Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, and Hong Kong International Film Festival. Programming decisions balance national cinemas from countries like Italy, France, United States, Japan, Iran, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, and Nigeria with works from emergent industries in Poland, India, Turkey, Egypt, and Mexico.

Notable Premieres and Award Winners

Over its run the sidebar premiered films by directors later associated with institutions and awards such as the César Awards, Cannes Palme d'Or, and the Golden Lion. Notable premieres included early works by filmmakers who became affiliated with the Berlin Golden Bear circuit and recipients of the Silver Bear. Award winners from its competitions have been picked up by distributors like Pathé, StudioCanal, and The Criterion Collection, and have achieved theatrical release in partnership with exhibitors such as CinemaEuropa chains. Individual titles introduced at the sidebar later garnered nominations at the European Film Awards, entries at the Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award race, and attention from critics awarding prizes like the FIPRESCI Prize and national honors from bodies such as the David di Donatello academy.

Jury and Critics

The jury and critical entourage accompanying the sidebar are drawn from a network including critics who have written for Sight & Sound, Cahiers du Cinéma, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, La Repubblica, and Corriere della Sera. Panels historically included members associated with the International Film Critics' Week and representatives from academic institutions like University of California, Los Angeles, New York University, King's College London, and the University of Bologna. Jurors often have prior affiliations with festivals and organizations such as the Venice Biennale College, the Rotterdam Lab, and the Berlin Talents program, providing bridgeheads to funding sources like the Eurimages fund and national film commissions such as Fondazione Sardegna Film Commission.

Impact on Italian and International Cinema

The sidebar has served as a launchpad for directors who later entered circuits of institutional recognition—receiving support from bodies including the European Commission's media initiatives, collaborations with the British Film Institute, and residencies at institutions like the Fondation Cartier and the CNC (Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée). By channeling films into distribution networks tied to companies such as Artificial Eye and streaming platforms like HBO and Amazon Studios, it has influenced programming at repertory venues including the Film Society of Lincoln Center and shaped retrospectives at the Cinemathèque Française. Its role in spotlighting national cinemas has contributed to renewed critical attention for movements associated with Italian neorealism alumni, contemporary auteurs connected to Iranian New Wave auteurs, and filmmakers emerging from programs like the La Fémis training.

Editions and Venues

Editions take place during the annual Venice Film Festival season at screening venues historically including the Sala Grande, the Palazzo del Cinema on the Lido, and ancillary spaces in Venice such as the Palazzo del Casinò and private screening rooms used by partnering organizations like the Biennale College Cinema. Special editions have toured to satellite events at festivals including BFI London Film Festival, Venice Days, and cultural showcases organized by embassies and consulates of countries such as France, Japan, and Mexico. The program's archival collections and catalogues have been referenced in exhibitions at institutions like the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and documented in filmographies preserved by the Cineteca di Bologna and the EYE Film Institute Netherlands.

Category:Film festivals in Italy