Bold Films, New Voices: Looking Back at Venice Film Week 2026

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Venice Film Week has wrapped its 2026 edition following five days of independent cinema, filmmaker encounters and screenings across Venice. Taking place from August 16 to 20, this year’s program brought together a wide-ranging selection of narrative and documentary films, shorts, animation and experimental work from Italy and around the world.

The festival opened on Sunday, August 16, with an open-air screening at Campo San Polo, setting the tone for a week dedicated to contemporary independent cinema with an edge. From August 18 through 20, the festival continued with its indoor program at Casa del Cinema, where audiences discovered an eclectic mix of emerging voices and established independent filmmakers.

The 2026 edition was met with a strong turnout throughout the week. Just as important was the presence of many filmmakers who travelled to Venice to represent their work, giving audiences the opportunity to meet the people behind the films and continue the conversation beyond the screenings.

One of the highlights came on Tuesday, August 18, with the screening of the Italian documentary The Empty Space, directed by Stefano P. Testa and Alberto Ceresoli. Testa attended the screening and took part in an extended Q&A afterwards. The conversation developed into one of the festival’s most engaging exchanges, with the audience eagerly joining the discussion and exploring the ideas and themes behind the film. The Empty Space went on to receive the award for Best Documentary Feature Film.

At the close of the festival, the jury announced the winners of the 2026 Venice Film Week Awards, recognizing films across seven categories:

Best Narrative Feature Film

The Best in the World (France), directed by Marion Standefer

Best Documentary Feature Film

The Empty Space (Italy), directed by Stefano P. Testa and Alberto Ceresoli

Best Narrative Short Film

Scenario (Japan), directed by Kazunori Miura

Best Documentary Short Film

To the Embers (France), directed by Morgane Ambre

Best Animated Film

Une Fugue (To the Woods) (France), directed by Agnès Patron

Best Experimental Film

Bubble Bath (Italy), directed by Giulia Magno

Best Italian Cinema Now

Il Rifiuto (Italy), directed by Marco Pipitone

Audience Choice Award

Eîdòn (Italy), directed by Simone Bardi

With another edition concluded, Venice Film Week once again demonstrated the value of creating a space where independent films can be experienced collectively and where filmmakers and audiences can meet directly. From the opening night at Campo San Polo to the final screenings at Casa del Cinema, the 2026 edition was defined by an engaged audience, an adventurous program and, above all, the conversations and connections that developed around the films.