US actress Scarlett Johansson graces the red carpet of the current edition of the Venice Film Festival.
The Venice Film Festival was born in 1893, when the Municipality of Venice resolved to organize a national art exposition to be held every two years.
In 1894, the Municipality amended its resolution, opening the exposition to foreign artists.
In 1907, Belgium became the first foreign Nation to open a pavilion in the Festival.
In 1920, the first President of the Exposition was appointed. Previously, the post was held by the Mayor of Venice.
In 1930, a Royal Decree made the Exposition a State entity, thus removing it from Municipality control.
In 1932, the First International Exposition of Cinematographic Art was held.
After World War II, the Exposition reopened in 1948.
In 1949, the Golden Lion prize is created.
in 1951 the Festival is won by Akira Kurosawa: the West opens its doors to Eastern cinema.
In 1956 the first selection committee is established. Previously, every country chose which film was going to participate.
In 1969, the Festival bows to 1968 disturbances pressure. It will not assign prizes until the Eighties.
After a Law enacted in 1973, the Festival Board is no more appointed by the Government but also by local Entities and trade unions. A new reform takes place in 1998 and another in 2004. The Biennale is now a trust.
Italian Insight 