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Venice Film Festival

During the 1930s, the government and Italian citizens were heavily interested in film. The majority of all money spent on spectator art or sporting events went to film industry. The majority of films screened in Italy were American which lead to government involvement in the film industry and the yearning to celebrate Italian culture in general. With this in mind, the Venice International Film Festival was created by Giuseppe Volpi, Luciano de Feo, and Antonio Maraini in 1932. (SOURCE) Volpi, a statesman, wealthy businessman, and avid fascist, was appointed as the president of the Venice Beinnale the same year. Formerly, he served as the Minister of Finance under Benito Mussolini. Maraini served as the festival's Secretary General and the executive committee was headed by de Feo.

On the night of August 6, 1932, the American film Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Rouben Mamoulian opened the festival. Attendees viewed the film on the terrace of the Excelsior Palace Hotel. A total of nine countries participated in the festival which lasted from August 6 to August 21.

No awards were given at the first exhibition, however, an audience referendum was held to declare which films and performances were worthy of the most praise. The French film Freedom for Us was labeled as the Film Più Divertente (the most fun film). The Sin of Madelon Claudet was chosen as the Film Più commovente (the most moving film) and it was decided that Helen Hayes gave the best actress performance for her role in the film. The title of most original film, Film dalla fantasia più originale, was given to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Fredric March was considered to have given the best actor performance.

Despite the success of the first festival, no event was held in 1933. In 1934, the festival was declared to be an annual event and involvement grew from nine countries to seventeen. The structure of the festival also began to develop in 1934 when the first official awards were given, namely the Mussolini Cup. Seventeen awards were give; 14 to films, 3 to individuals, and 5 honorable mentions were announced.

The third installment in 1935 was headed by the festival's first artistic director, Ottavio Croze, who maintained this position until the war. The following year added a jury to the festival's governing body, with members being solely Italian. The majority of funds for the festival at this point came from the Ministry of Popular Culture, with other portions received from the Biennale and the city of Venice.

The year 1936 also marked another important development in the festival. A law, crafted by the Ministry of Popular Culture, was passed declaring the festival to be an autonomous entity, separate from the main Venice Biennale. This allowed additional fascist organizations, such as the Department of Cinema and the Fascist National Federation of Entertainment Industries, to take control of the festival.

The fifth festival established its home. Designed and completed in 1937, the Palazzo del Cinema was built on the Lido. The Palazzo has since been the site for every Venice Film Festival with a three year exception from 1940 to 1942 when the festival was moved away from Venice for fear of bombing. Coincidentally, the city received almost no damage.

Until the later 1930s, American film was widely viewed and celebrated by Italians. Government financial support of the Italian film industry lead to an increase in the number of Italian films made each year. By 1942, the amount of Italian films produced jumped from 18 in 1932 to 119.

With all Allied powers out of the festival by the 1940 instillation, the festival was renamed the Italian-German Film Festival (Manifestazione Cinematografica Italo-Germanica). The festival carried this title until 1942, which is the last year the festival was held before the end of World War II. Only Axis countries, their counterparts, and neutral countries participated. As of today, this period has officially been voided by the Biennale and does not count towards the total number of festivals held.

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