Settimana Internazionale della Critica 2027, Venice, Italy

À quoi s’attendre en 2027

Settimana Internazionale della Critica, also known internationally as Venice Critics’ Week, is an independent and parallel section of the Venice International Film Festival organized by the National Union of Italian Film Critics (SNCCI). The section is dedicated to discovering new cinematic voices, with its core programme traditionally built around seven debut feature films in competition and special events outside competition.

The 2027 edition is expected to continue this strong focus on first-time feature filmmakers, international auteur cinema and emerging directors. Alongside the main competition, the programme is expected to include SIC@SIC – Short Italian Cinema, special screenings and events designed to support new Italian filmmaking.

Période des festivals : August or September 2027 (Dates TBD)

Objectif principal : Debut feature films, emerging directors, international cinema, Italian short films, special events and independent filmmaking.

The festival is particularly notable for its history of discovering directors who later established themselves internationally. Previous SIC selections have included filmmakers such as Roberta Torre, Vincenzo Marra, Salvatore Mereu, Andrea Molaioli and Alessandro Rak.

Dates des festivals

Settimana Internazionale della Critica 2027 will take place as part of the wider Venice International Film Festival programme.

Période du festival 2027 : August or September 2027 (Dates TBD)

The exact opening and closing dates, screening timetable, film schedule and public ticket information will be announced by the organisers once the 2027 programme is confirmed.

Vous visitez cet événement ? Ne manquez pas ces activités et expériences locales étonnantes pendant votre séjour.

Lieux et lieux de festival

The main SIC screenings are traditionally held at the Venice Film Festival’s cinema facilities on the Lido di Venezia.

Sala Perla: The principal screening venue for the SIC competition, including debut feature films and selected special events.

Sala Corinto: Used for public repeat screenings and additional SIC competition presentations.

Sala Casinò: Used for selected special events and screenings connected with the wider Venice Film Festival programme.

Lido di Venezia: The main festival environment, providing access to the cinema venues, press facilities, industry activities, hotels, restaurants and transport connections.

Recent SIC programmes have used Sala Perla for competition screenings and Sala Corinto for evening repeat presentations, while selected special events have also taken place at Sala Casinò.

Programme complet

The 2027 programme is expected to be structured around the festival’s established selection format.

Compétition internationale : Seven debut feature films selected from international submissions and presented as the central competition.

SIC@SIC: Short Italian Cinema at Settimana Internazionale della Critica, featuring a selection of Italian short films by directors who have not yet made a feature film.

Special Events: Selected films presented outside the main competition, including opening and closing films.

Special screenings: Additional cinema projects may be presented in collaboration with the wider Venice Film Festival.

Awards: The competition traditionally includes the IWONDERFULL Grand Prize, an Audience Award and the Luciano Sovena Award for Best Independent Production, alongside additional awards connected with technical contribution and innovative filmmaking.

Films en vedette & premières

The 2027 film selection has not yet been announced. SIC is specifically dedicated to debut feature films, with eligibility rules requiring newly presented works that meet the festival’s premiere conditions.

The official regulations state that Italian films must be world premieres, while non-Italian submissions must generally not have been theatrically released or presented at other festivals before Venice, apart from limited country-of-origin exceptions specified in the regulations.

The 2027 programme is therefore expected to include:

• Seven international debut feature films in competition
• New documentaries and fiction features by first-time directors
• SIC@SIC Italian short films
• Opening and closing special events
• Selected out-of-competition screenings
• Films receiving their first major international presentation

Recent selections demonstrate the international scope of the competition, with films coming from countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and other regions.

Réalisateurs, acteurs et invités

SIC places particular emphasis on emerging directors because the competition is built around first feature films. Filmmakers generally attend screenings and participate in conversations and promotional activities surrounding their films.

The festival has historically introduced directors who later developed significant international careers. Its discovery-oriented tradition has included filmmakers such as Roberta Torre, Vincenzo Marra, Salvatore Mereu, Andrea Molaioli and Alessandro Rak.

Recent editions have also welcomed established creative professionals through juries and special events. The previous edition’s jury included filmmaker and actor Lee Hong-chi, international sales executive Nathalie Jeung and filmmaking duo Valentina and Nicole Bertani.

The 2027 director, actor, jury and guest list will be announced as the official programme develops.

Calendrier des projections

The final 2027 screening schedule will be published by SIC and coordinated with the Venice Film Festival’s ticketing and accreditation system.

Based on the established programme structure, visitors can expect:

• Competition screenings at Sala Perla
• Public repeat screenings at Sala Perla and Sala Corinto
• Press and industry screenings
• SIC@SIC short-film programmes
• Opening and closing special events
• Additional out-of-competition presentations
• Award and winner screenings

Public screenings are made available through the Venice Film Festival ticketing system, while accredited press and industry visitors reserve seats through the accreditation platform.

Types de billets et accréditations

SIC public screenings are integrated into the ticketing system of the Venice International Film Festival. Previous-edition Biennale Cinema pricing provides a useful reference for planning because exact 2027 ticket prices have not yet been announced.

Sala Perla: Previous full-price individual tickets were approximately $12, with reduced admission around $8.

Sala Corinto: Previous full-price individual tickets were approximately $12, with reduced admission around $8.

Sala Casinò: Previous full-price individual tickets were approximately $12, with reduced admission around $8.

The reduced rates previously applied to eligible visitors including younger and older audiences and qualifying Biennale card holders.

Cinema accreditation: Previous professional cinema accreditation was approximately $91 for the early rate and $108 for the full rate.

Student accreditation: Previous student cinema accreditation was approximately $91 for the early rate and $108 for the full rate.

These are previous-edition reference prices, not confirmed 2027 rates.

Industrie et accès professionnel

SIC has a strong professional role within the Venice film environment, particularly because its programme is designed to identify and promote new directors and independent productions.

Professional visitors can attend press and industry screenings through the appropriate Venice Film Festival accreditation. Accredited visitors must reserve their seats through the designated online booking system for screenings where reservation is required.

Industry activities can include:

• Filmmaker and producer meetings
• Press conferences and interviews
• Industry screenings
• Opportunités de réseautage
• Film promotion and sales activities
• Jury and award events
• Discussions surrounding independent cinema
• Meetings connected with emerging Italian and international filmmakers

The festival’s discovery-oriented structure makes it an important meeting point for professionals following new directors and independent productions.

Tapis rouge & événements spéciaux

As part of the Venice Film Festival environment, SIC benefits from the wider red-carpet atmosphere of the Lido while maintaining its own independent artistic identity.

Opening event: The programme traditionally begins with a special opening film and an opening short-film presentation.

Événement de clôture : A special closing film and closing short can conclude the programme outside the main competition.

Award ceremony: Competition winners are announced through the festival’s awards programme.

Special screenings: Selected films can be presented outside competition, giving audiences additional opportunities to discover new and established creative voices.

The festival’s recent programme included opening and closing films alongside special out-of-competition presentations, demonstrating the importance of these events within the overall SIC structure.

Access to the main Venice red carpet itself is controlled by the Venice Film Festival and cannot be assumed for ordinary ticket holders.

Règles du festival

SIC operates under its own regulations governing film eligibility, premieres, submissions and competition participation.

Premiere requirements: Italian feature films must generally be world premieres, while non-Italian films must comply with the festival’s restrictions concerning previous theatrical and festival presentations.

Debut requirement: The main competition is dedicated to debut feature films, with the detailed definition established in the official regulations.

Online availability: Films that have already been released online are generally not eligible for the main selection.

Subtitles: Films not in Italian must provide screeners with Italian or English subtitles according to the applicable regulations.

Accredited access: Accreditation does not automatically guarantee entry to every screening. Accredited visitors must reserve seats where required.

Public screenings: General audiences must use the official ticketing system for public screenings.

Comment y arriver

Settimana Internazionale della Critica takes place on the Lido di Venezia, which is reached primarily by water transport from Venice.

From Venice Marco Polo Airport: Visitors can use airport transport services toward Venice and continue by vaporetto or other water transport to the Lido.

From Venice Santa Lucia railway station: The simplest connection is to walk from the station toward the nearby vaporetto stops and take a service toward Lido.

From Venice historic centre: Vaporetto services connect areas such as San Marco and other central districts with the Lido.

From Mestre: Visitors can travel into Venice by rail or road and then continue by water transport toward the Lido.

Once on the Lido, the main festival venues can be reached using local buses, taxis or on foot.

Transports en commun et stationnement

Public transport is the most practical option for reaching the SIC venues because the Lido and Venice rely heavily on water and local public transportation.

Vaporetto : ACTV water buses provide the principal connection between Venice and the Lido.

Lido buses: Local buses connect the Santa Maria Elisabetta transport hub with the central festival area and other parts of the island.

Marche : Sala Perla, Sala Corinto and other major festival locations are concentrated around the main Venice Film Festival complex.

Taxi : Water taxis and road taxis are available for visitors seeking more direct transportation.

Stationnement : Visitors arriving by car should use designated parking facilities and continue toward the Lido using the available ferry or water connections. Parking directly beside the SIC screening venues should not be assumed.

Professional cinema accreditation has previously included public transport access on Venice and Lido services during the festival period, subject to the accreditation conditions.

Zones d’hébergement

The Lido is the most convenient area for visitors who want to stay close to the SIC venues.

Lido di Venezia: Provides the shortest access to the main festival cinemas, restaurants, cafés and transport services.

Santa Maria Elisabetta: A practical base around the Lido’s main vaporetto terminal, with convenient connections to central Venice.

San Marco: Suitable for visitors who want to stay near Venice’s historic centre while maintaining relatively easy water access to the Lido.

Cannaregio and Santa Croce: These districts offer a large selection of accommodation and convenient connections to water transport.

Mestre: Often provides additional accommodation options and land-based transport connections, although visitors need to allow more time for the journey to the Lido.

Restauration et restauration

The Lido offers a range of cafés, restaurants, bars and casual dining establishments around the festival area.

Visitors can find traditional Venetian and Italian food alongside seafood restaurants, pizzerias, cafés, bakeries and quick options suitable for short breaks between screenings.

Near the festival complex: Convenient for visitors who have several screenings scheduled during the day.

Santa Maria Elisabetta: Offers restaurants, cafés and casual dining close to the main transport hub.

Venice historic centre: Provides a much broader choice of Venetian cuisine, cicchetti bars, restaurants and international dining.

During the busy Venice Film Festival period, visitors may benefit from planning meals around their screening schedule and reserving restaurants where necessary.

Accessibilité

Accessibility arrangements for SIC screenings are connected to the facilities and procedures of the Venice Film Festival.

Previous Biennale Cinema information confirmed designated wheelchair spaces in Sala Perla, Sala Corinto and Sala Casinò, subject to availability and the applicable documentation requirements.

Wheelchair access: Designated wheelchair spaces are available in the main festival cinemas, with capacity determined by each venue.

Companion access: Eligible visitors requiring a certified companion can request the applicable accessible seating arrangement, with the companion receiving free admission under the established Biennale procedure.

Advance requests: Accessibility requests should be submitted to the official Biennale ticket office within the required timeframe and before the relevant screening.

Meilleures projections à laquelle assister

For visitors primarily interested in discovering new filmmakers, the main competition is the central part of SIC’s programme.

Premières des concours : A strong choice for audiences interested in first features and emerging international directors.

SIC@SIC: Particularly relevant for viewers interested in new Italian short filmmakers.

Opening film: Provides an introduction to the edition’s special-event programme.

Closing film: Offers another high-profile special presentation outside the main competition.

Événements spéciaux : Useful for visitors who want to expand beyond the seven competition titles.

Award screenings: An opportunity to see the films recognised by the international jury, audience and other SIC award bodies.

The festival’s core identity is built around discovering new cinematic voices, making the competition programme particularly relevant for visitors who want to follow emerging directors.

Faits marquants de l’année précédente

The previous edition marked the 40th Settimana Internazionale della Critica and featured seven debut feature films in competition, alongside SIC@SIC short films and special events.

The competition included AGON by Giulio Bertelli, Cotton Queen by Suzannah Mirghani, Gorgonà by Evi Kalogiropoulou, Ish by Imran Perretta, Roqia by Yanis Koussim, Straight Circle by Oscar Hudson and Waking Hours by Federico Cammarata and Filippo Foscarini.

Straight Circle received the IWONDERFULL Grand Prize and Verona Film Club Award for Most Innovative Feature, while Ish received the Audience Award. AGON received the Luciano Sovena Award for Best Independent Production, and Waking Hours received the Mario Serandrei Award for Best Technical Contribution.

The SIC@SIC competition also presented seven Italian short films, with Marina receiving the Best Short Film Award and Festa in famiglia receiving the Best Director Award.

Billets officiels et accréditation

Public tickets for SIC screenings are sold through the Venice Film Festival’s official ticketing system. Accredited press and industry visitors use the Biennale accreditation and seat-reservation systems for eligible screenings.

Site officiel : https://sicvenezia.it/

Contact : The official SIC website provides the latest contact information, submission instructions, programme announcements and accreditation details.

Public tickets: The official SIC programme directs non-accredited audiences to the Biennale Cinema ticketing platform for public screenings.

Accréditation professionnelle : Press, Industry and other eligible accreditation holders can reserve seats through the official Biennale system.

For 2027, visitors should check the official SIC website and the Venice Film Festival ticketing platform for the final programme, ticket availability, accreditation requirements and screening reservations.

Localisation

FAQ