36th Venice International Film Festival

The 36th annual Venice International Film Festival was held from 24 August to 5 September 1979.

There was no jury because from 1969 to 1979 the festival was not competitive.

Official Selections

 * Le passe-montagne by Jean-François Stévenin (France)
 * La nouba des femmes du mont Chenoua by Assia Djebar (Algeria)
 * Autumn Marathon by Georgiy Daneliya (Soviet Union)
 * The Strangling by Kaneto Shindô (Japan)
 * Saint Jack by Peter Bogdanovich (France)

FIPRESCI Prize

 * Le passe-montagne by Jean-François Stévenin
 * La nouba des femmes du mont Chenoua by Assia Djebar
 * Honorable Mention: Le vieil Anaï by Jean Rouch

Pasinetti Award

 * Best Film:
 * Autumn Marathon by Georgiy Daneliya
 * Saint Jack by Peter Bogdanovich
 * Best Actor: Yevgeny Leonov for Autumn Marathon
 * Best Actress: Nobuko Otowa for The Strangling

Pietro Bianchi Award

 * Cesare Zavattini