69th International Film Festival

At the close of every summer for the last 69 years, the spotlight has shined on the Lido of Venice during the much-anticipated Venice International Film Festival. This year the programme features two new additions: the handover of artistic direction from Marco Muller (current director of the Rome Film Festival) to Alberto Barbera, and the development of a genuine film market, the Venice Film Market. The Market will allow films not officially invited to the showcase to be bought and sold internationally by producers, vendors, buyers and distributors. In regards to the invited films, eighteen are competing in this year’s festival, directed by the most celebrated Italian and international directors – Marco Bellocchio, Ramin Bahrani, Francesca Comencini, Brian De Palma, Kim Ki-duk and Takeshi Kitano – while the Fuori Concorso and Orizzonti (Non-Competition and Horizons) sections will feature an equally-rich line-up. Not only, but 2012 is also the inaugural year for the Green Drop Award, which will be given to one of the 18 officially-competing films, in parallel to the Festival itself. The Green Cross Italia Association will choose the film that best represents the ideals of ecology and sustainable development, and that pays particular attention to Planet Earth.   Ermanno Olmi serves as President of the Jury. From / ITALIA website