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The oldest film festival in the world, the Venice Film Festival has a rich history and extraordinary list of participating films. The first Venice Film Festival, called Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica, occurred in 1932. Since then, in August or September, filmmakers and movie stars from all over the world gather in Venice for the prestigious event.

In 1932, Count Giusepe Volip, the president of Venice, two secretary generals named Antonio Maraini and Lucian De Feo, were responsible for putting together the first festival. The first Venice Film Festival was not competitive, and it took place on the veranda at the Excelsior Hotel in Lido of Venice. Since then it has grown each year.

Awards now given out include the Golden Lion, awarded to best film, and the Volpi Cup, given to the best actor and actress. Though the Venice Film Festival is not as well-known as Cannes, Sundance, or the Toronto Film Festival, it is still a prestigious yearly gathering of some of the world's best filmmakers.

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