Alberto Barbera, the director of the Venice Film Festival, has addressed concerns surrounding this year’s lineup and broader industry issues. The 83rd Biennale will feature a noticeable absence of major Hollywood studio films, a decline in female representation in competition, and the emerging impact of artificial intelligence on filmmaking.
Barbera explained the reduced presence of large studios is due to the current climate of strikes and economic uncertainty within the entertainment industry. He noted that many American companies are prioritizing theatrical releases over festival submissions. This has resulted in a lineup that, while still starry, lacks the usual heavy backing from major Hollywood players.
The director also acknowledged a “desperate” lack of women competing for awards this year. While he did not offer specific reasons for the imbalance, Barbera highlighted the difficulty in achieving gender parity given the limited number of films eligible and selected through the festival’s established criteria. He stated, “It’s difficult to impose parity when you don’t have enough films directed by women.”
Finally, Barbera addressed the growing role of AI in cinema, specifically referencing Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming film 'Artificial,' which will not be presented at the Lido this year. He indicated that the festival is still grappling with how to categorize and evaluate films significantly created or altered using artificial intelligence.
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