New films from Lili Horvat and Robert Guediguian are among the 25 world premieres selected for the 23rd edition of Giornate degli Autori, the independent sidebar of Venice Film Festival (September 2-12).
Ten films will compete in the official competition, which will open with My Notes On Mars, the first English-language film from Hungarian director Horvat.
Scroll down for the full list of titles
Starring Mackenzie Davis and Rupert Friend, the science-fiction film follows a young woman scientist who disappears during an excursion, then reappears weeks later on the day of her memorial service with no memory of where she has been.
French filmmaker Guediguian participates in competition with A Woman Today, in which a young woman measures the distance between her own idea of freedom and a present day ridden with violence and inequality.
The selection also includes Salon De Belleza, the directorial debut feature of Mexican actress Nathalia Acevedo, an adaptation of Mario Bellatin’s novel about a gay hairdresser who turns his salon into a refuge when an unknown illness befalls his city.
The selection has one out-of-competition title – Lea Domenach’s feminist musical comedy Man’s Skin, based on Hubert and Sanzim’s graphic novel of the same name – and five special events titles, including Samuele Rossi’s Second World War Resistance drama Even If Hell Came.
The Giornate selection also includes nine features in the Venetian Nights strand for Italian films, which will open with Roberta Torre’s Scarpe Rotte.
Mona Fastvold and Claire Denis will present short films as part of the Miu Miu Women’s Tales strand.
Spanish filmmaker Carla Simon will preside over a three-person jury for the section, alongside Lebanese programmer and distributor Hania Mroue and Italian filmmaker Sara Fgaier. They will present awards including the GdA Director’s Award, with a €20,000 ($22,821) cash prize split between the director and distributor of the winning film.
Giornate degli Autori received 1,036 submissions from 114 countries this year. Fourteen of its 25 feature films are directed by women.
The 2026 edition is the first since the death of Giornate founder Giorgio Gosetti in March, aged 70.
“As we were putting together our 23rd edition, he was on our mind constantly, and that served as our compass, so we wouldn’t stray off course and could continue his work with the same determination, wisdom, and grace,” said Giornate president Francesco Ranieri Martinotti.
“This edition carries with it a deep void and a deep gratitude,” said Giornate artistic director Gaia Furrer. “This year, Giornate springs from the desire to honor this legacy by continuing to do what Giorgio taught us: seek out, discover, go wrong, become passionate about, and believe in cinema and in those who make it happen.”
Giornate degli Autori 2026 selection
In Competition
Sadness Sometimes, Other Times Revolt (Arg-Sp) dir. Maria Aparicio
Agata The Writer (Australia) dir. Kuba Dorabialski
Balcanica (It-Ser-Cro) dir. Nicola Sorcinelli
Camouflage (Ger) dir. Mykyta Gibalenko
Dear Ajayi (Nigeria-Ger) dir. Damilola Orimogunje
I Plant My Hand In The Garden (Ger-Ser-US) dirs. Boris Hadzija, Hoda Taheri
The Indies (Switz-Sp) dirs. Pauline Julier, Nicolas Chapoulier
My Notes On Mars (Hun-Austria) dir. Lili Horvat
Salon De Belleza (Mex-Fr) dir. Nathalia Acevedo
A Woman Today (Fr-It) dir. Robert Guediguian
Out of competition
Man’s Skin (Fr) dir. Lea Domenach
Special Events
Al Baraneya (Neth-Egy-Bel-S Arabia) dir. Ashgan El-Hamus
Carla Lonzi, A Feminist Story (It) dir. Francesca Archibugi
The Phantom (Arg) dirs. Ignacio Masllorens, David Lamelas
The Massacre (It) dir. Cosimo Messeri
Even If Hell Came (It) dir. Samuele Rossi
Miu Miu Women’s Tales
Discipline (US) dir. Mona Fastvold
Avec Kim (Fr) dir. Claire Denis
Venetian Nights
Anatomia Di Un Ritratto (It-Switz) dirs. Francesco Clerici, Mattia Colombo
Auber 89 (Fr-It) dir. Giuseppe Schillaci
Domenica Capitale – Genere Domenicale (It) dir. Giovanna Giuliani
La Leggenda Del Deserto (It) dir. Elisabetta Giannini
Memoria Del Lampo (It) dir. Riccardo Giacconi
Il Mestiere (It-Bel-Fr) dir. Beppe Tufarulo
Scarpe Rotte (It) dir. Roberta Torre
Si Sveglia E Sbadiglia, Il Gatto; Poi L’Amore (It) dirs. Federico Francioni, Samuele Sestieri
Uno Si Distrae Al Bivio (It) dir. Alessandra Lancellotti
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