Giornate degli Autori Unveils Ambitious 2026 Lineup Championing Female Voices and Global Cinema
The parallel section of the Venice Film Festival, Giornate degli Autori (GdG), has announced its carefully curated lineup for its 2026 edition, presenting a compelling slate that significantly prioritizes female filmmakers and a diverse array of international cinematic voices. The selection, drawn from an impressive 1,036 submissions spanning 114 countries, features 25 world premieres, underscoring the section’s commitment to showcasing emerging talent and groundbreaking narratives.
This year’s edition, running from September 2 to September 12 concurrently with the main Venice Film Festival, will host its activities primarily at Casa degli Autori and Sala Laguna on the Venice Lido. The Giornate degli Autori, now in its 23rd iteration, is dedicated to the memory of its founder and longtime champion, the late film critic and festival executive Giorgio Gosetti, who passed away unexpectedly in March. His profound influence and dedication to fostering a community of filmmakers and audiences are being honored throughout the festival.
Artistic Director Gaia Furrer articulated the emotional weight of this year’s edition, stating, "This edition carries with it a deep void and a deep gratitude. We owe to Giorgio the very idea for this free arena we inhabit, along with his faith in the new directions of cinema and his stubborn, loving determination to build and consolidate, year after year, a community of men and women filmmakers and audiences. This year, Giornate springs from the desire to honor this legacy by continuing to do what Giorgio taught us: seek out, discover, go wrong, become passionate about, and believe in cinema and in those who make it happen."
The program boasts 14 films directed by women, a clear indicator of GdG’s commitment to gender parity and amplifying diverse perspectives within the industry. Of the 25 world premieres, 13 hail from Italy, reflecting the section’s significant role in spotlighting national cinema alongside its international scope. The competitive section features 10 films, a single out-of-competition closing film, five special events, and a showcase of nine titles within the "Venetian Nights" strand.
Opening and Closing Films Set the Tone
Hungarian director Lili Horvát’s first English-language feature, My Notes on Mars, is slated to open the 2026 Giornate degli Autori. This science-fiction romance stars Mackenzie Davis as a scientist who mysteriously vanishes during a hiking expedition, only to reappear on the day of her own memorial service with no recollection of the intervening period. Rupert Friend co-stars in this intriguing narrative that promises to blend speculative fiction with deeply personal themes of memory and identity.
Horvát is no stranger to critical acclaim, having previously impressed audiences and critics with Preparations to Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time. That film, a psychological drama about a talented surgeon who abandons her career for a man who then denies ever meeting her, debuted in the GdA’s 2020 edition and went on to garner numerous awards, including the prestigious Golden Hugo at Chicago’s New Directors Competition. Her return to Giornate degli Autori with My Notes on Mars signals a strong start for the festival.
Concluding the section will be Léa Domenach’s A Man’s Skin, a vibrant and audacious queer and feminist musical comedy set against the backdrop of the Italian Renaissance. The film features a notable cast including Pomme, Karin Viard, and Catherine Deneuve, promising a visually rich and thematically bold cinematic experience.
A Competitive Field of Global Storytelling
The ten films vying for the GdA Director’s Award represent a rich tapestry of international cinema, highlighting a commitment to diverse storytelling and directorial vision. Among the competitive entries is Agata the Writer, the latest offering from Polish-born, Australia-based filmmaker Kuba Dorabialski. The film stars Mia Wasikowska as an Australian writer who travels to Sarajevo to research a novel about the Bosnian War, a journey that forces her to confront the limitations of her artistic perspective and the complexities of historical representation.
Another significant competition entry is Salón de Belleza, the directorial debut of Nathalia Acevedo, known for her role in Post Tenebras Lux. Adapted from Mario Bellatin’s radical novel, the film unfolds within a beauty salon in a city ravaged by an unexplained disease. The salon becomes a sanctuary for the afflicted, a liminal space where individuals linger between life and death. The film features performances by Belgian multi-disciplinary artist Sam Louwyck and Erwan Kepoa Falé.
Established filmmakers are also represented, including Robert Guédiguian with A Woman Today. The film stars newcomer Marilou Aussilloux as a young woman grappling with the chasm between her personal ideals of freedom and the persistent realities of a world still marked by violence and inequality. Guédiguian, a celebrated director known for his socially conscious cinema, reunites with his longtime collaborators Ariane Ascaride, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, and Gérard Meylan, adding considerable weight to the competition.
Other films in contention include Sadness Sometimes, Other Times Revolt by María Aparicio (Argentina, Spain), Balcanica (a debut feature by Nicola Sorcinelli, Italy, Serbia, Croatia), Camouflage (a debut feature by Mykyta Gibalenko, Germany), Dear Ajayi by Damilola Orimogunje (Nigeria, Germany), I Plant My Hand in the Garden (a debut feature by Boris Hadžija & Hoda Taheri, Germany, Serbia, U.S.), and The Indies (a debut feature by Pauline Julier, Nicolas Chapoulier, Switzerland, Spain).
Awards and Recognition
The prestigious GdA Director’s Award carries a significant cash prize of €20,000, to be equally divided between the director and their international distributor, fostering vital support for the films’ future reach. The jury tasked with selecting the winner comprises a distinguished panel of international film professionals: Spanish filmmaker Carla Simón, Italian director and editor Sara Fgaier, and Hania Mroué, director of Beirut’s renowned Metropolis arthouse cinema.
Beyond the main jury prize, two other awards will be presented. The Audience Award will be determined by the festivalgoers attending screenings at the Sala Perla. Additionally, the Europa Cinemas jury will select the winner of the Europa Cinemas Label from among the European films featured in the Giornate degli Autori, further promoting European cinematic production and distribution.
Special Events and Program Highlights
The Special Events section promises a diverse range of cinematic exploration, encompassing documentaries, autobiographical narratives, historical films, and experimental works. A notable inclusion is Francesca Archibugi’s Carla Lonzi, A Feminist Story, which delves into the life and impactful work of one of Italy’s most radical feminist thinkers of the 20th century. This documentary offers a timely examination of a crucial figure in feminist discourse and activism.
In a significant collaboration, the Miu Miu Women’s Tales program, now in its 15th edition, will feature esteemed filmmakers Claire Denis and Mona Fastvold as guests of honor. This partnership with Giornate degli Autori provides a platform for these celebrated directors to share invaluable career insights and engage in on-stage conversations, further highlighting the festival’s commitment to mentorship and the advancement of women in film.
The "Venetian Nights" showcase will present nine additional titles, offering a broader panorama of contemporary cinema and providing further opportunities for discovery for audiences and industry professionals alike.
Context and Legacy of Giornate degli Autori
Established in 2004, Giornate degli Autori emerged as an independent section of the Venice Film Festival, conceived to offer an alternative perspective and a platform for emerging and established filmmakers to present their work outside the more traditional competitive structures. Its genesis was rooted in a desire to foster a more intimate and auteur-driven cinematic experience, often serving as a launchpad for films that later gained international recognition. The section has consistently championed bold, personal, and innovative filmmaking, making it a vital component of the Venice Film Festival’s rich cinematic landscape.
The dedication of the 23rd edition to Giorgio Gosetti is a poignant tribute to a figure who was instrumental in shaping the identity and ethos of Giornate degli Autori. Gosetti’s vision emphasized the importance of artistic freedom, the discovery of new talent, and the cultivation of a vibrant cinematic community. His passing represents a significant loss to the film world, and the current edition’s commitment to his principles underscores the enduring impact of his work. Artistic Director Gaia Furrer’s statement powerfully conveys the sense of both mourning and dedication to continuing Gosetti’s legacy.
The focus on female directors in the 2026 lineup is not merely a statistical achievement but a reflection of a broader industry-wide conversation about representation and inclusion. As more women filmmakers gain recognition and support, sections like Giornate degli Autori play a crucial role in providing them with a prominent platform on a global stage. The substantial number of submissions and the quality of the selected films suggest a thriving landscape of female creative talent ready to be discovered and celebrated.
The inclusion of films from 114 countries highlights the truly global nature of the selection. This geographical diversity is essential for understanding contemporary cinema, as it brings to the forefront narratives and cultural perspectives that might otherwise remain underrepresented. The presence of numerous debut features further signals Giornate degli Autori’s ongoing commitment to nurturing new voices and providing a crucial stepping stone for filmmakers at the beginning of their careers. The fact that 13 of the world premieres are Italian further solidifies the section’s importance within the Italian film industry, offering a vital platform for domestic productions to gain international exposure.
The festival’s timing, coinciding with the main Venice Film Festival, allows for significant crossover and engagement, drawing international media, industry professionals, and cinephiles to the Lido. This proximity ensures that the films presented by Giornate degli Autori receive considerable attention within the broader context of one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals. The blend of established directors and emerging talents, coupled with the strong emphasis on diverse voices and stories, positions the 2026 Giornate degli Autori as a significant event for the future of cinema.
