Venice Days, the independent sidebar of the Venice International Film Festival, has revealed the lineup for its 23rd edition, the first since the death of the section’s founder and longtime president Giorgio Gosetti in March. This year’s Venice Days, which run from September 2 to 12 in conjunction with the 83rd Venice Festival, are dedicated to his memory.
The sidebar and accompanying Italian cinema section Venice Nights includes 25 world premieres, more than half (14) of which were directed by women.
My notes on Mars Directed by Hungarian director Lili Horvat (Preparations to be together for an unknown period of time) will open Venice Days, and be shown in competition. Horvat’s English-language debut stars Mackenzie Davis and Rupert Friend in the story of a young scientist who mysteriously disappears, only to appear weeks later at her memorial service with no memory of what happened.
Cuba Dorabialski Agata the writerstarring Mia Wasikowska as an Australian author set in Sarajevo, will premiere in competition, alongside Pauline Julier and Nicolas Chapollier’s historical drama. Indies; The hybrid documentary-narrative film by Boris Hadija and Hoda Taheri I plant my hand in the garden; And the debut of Nicola Sorcinelli BalkanikaIt is the only Italian film in competition, and it revolves around an Afghan father and his son who try to flee to Europe after music was banned in their country.
Other highlights include Maria Aparicio Sometimes sadness, sometimes revolutionA drama centered around Argentines in Madrid; Debut of Mikita Gibalenko camouflageabout a young Ukrainian man in Germany whose separation from his homeland was changed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine; Damilola Orimogunje family melodrama Dear AjayiWhich will be the first Nigerian film to be screened in the Venice Days competition.
Leah Dominic Man’s skina whimsical feminist musical comedy set in the Italian Renaissance featuring Catherine Deneuve, will close in Venice Days and will be released out of competition.
A jury consisting of only women, headed by Spanish director Carla Simon (The Karas, Summer 1993(With Italian director Sarah Faqir)WeightlessHania Mroueh, director of the Metropolis Cinema in Beirut, will select the winner of the GdA Director’s Award, which amounts to 20,000 euros ($23,000) and will be divided between the director and the film’s international distributor. The Lido audience will vote for the Audience Award, while the Europe Cinemas jury will select the Europe Cinemas tag from among the European films in the lineup.
Roberta Torre Scratch the rotten It will open Venetian Nights, the Italian cinema program on the sidebar. The film, starring Barbara Ronci, is loosely inspired by the life of Natalia Ginzburg and is set in wartime Rome.
Miu Miu Women’s Tales, an anthology series of short films created by fashion brand Miu Miu, harkens back to the days of Venice with… disciplinea new short film from Mona Fastvold (Anne Lee’s testimony) and Afik Kimby the French writer Claire Denis (Bo Travel), the latter starring Susan Lyndon and Kim Gordon.
Venice Days 2026 will also include talks, industry events and public programs at Casa degli Autori and Sala Laguna. Among them are the return of #confronti, the fourth edition of Filmmakers Declaration, the soundtrack event organized with ACMF, the second edition of Africa Chiama, and the new collaboration with Venezia CULT that will bring cartoonists Leo Ortolani and Dave McKean to the Lido.
The Venice Film Festival will announce its competition list on Thursday, July 23.
Full lineup for Venice Days 2026:
In competition
Sometimes sadness, sometimes revolutionDirector: Maria Aparicio (Argentina, Spain)
Agata the writerDirector: Koba Durabialski (Australia)
BalkanikaDirector: Nicola Sorcinelli (Italy, Serbia, Croatia)
camouflageDirector: Mykita Gibalenko (Germany)
Dear AjayiDirector: Damilola Oremogunge (Nigeria, Germany)
I plant my hand in the gardenDirectors: Boris Hadija, Hoda Taheri (Germany, Serbia, USA)
IndiesDirectors: Pauline Julier, Nicolas Chapollier (Switzerland, Spain)
My notes on MarsDirected by: Lili Horvat (Hungary, Austria)
Salon de BellezaDirected by: Natalia Acevedo (Mexico, France)
Today’s womanDirected by: Robert Guedeguian (France, Italy)
Out of competition
Man’s skinDirected by: Léa Dominac (France) The final film
Special events
AdventitiaDirector: Ashjan Al-Homs (Netherlands, Egypt, Belgium, Saudi Arabia)
Carla Lonzi, a feminist storyDirected by: Francesca Archibugi (Italy)
PhantomDirectors: Ignacio Maslorens, David Lamelas (Argentina)
MassacreDirector: Cosimo Messeri (Italy)
Even if hell comesDirector: Samuel Rossi (Italy)
Venice Nights
Anatomy anatomyDirectors: Francesco Clerici, Mattia Colombo (Italy, Switzerland)
Uber 89Directed by: Giuseppe Schillaci (France, Italy)
Dominica Capital – Dominica typeDirected by: Giovanna Giuliani (Italy)
Desert legendDirected by: Elisabetta Giannini (Italy)
Flashlight memoryDirected by: Riccardo Giaccone (Italy)
MysteryDirector: Beppe Tofarolo (Italy, Belgium, France)
Scratch the rottenDirected by: Roberta Torre (Italy) Opening film
Si sveglia e sbadiglia, il gatto; Boy LamourDirectors: Federico Francione, Samuele Cestre (Italy)
Uno si distance al bivioDirected by: Alessandra Lancellotti (Italy)
