The largest of the four privately owned cinemas that survive in island Venice, the Rossini stands on the site of the Teatro San Benedetto, which in the eighteenth century was Venice's most important theatre. A huge cavern with decent Dolby sound, showing the usual dubbed blockbusters. Finally the council film office has done something about it - beginning with the Sala Volpi, one of the smaller screens, which is playing host to themed seasons of films on Friday evenings between December and April. Great for anyone who wants that festival buzz out of season. The Venice Film Festival has always been a more sedate affair than its big, brash French cousin.
Parties are rarer, and the ones there are tend to be smaller and more exclusive.
If the producers of a film really want to impress, they will host their post-screening do in a palazzo over the water in Venice itself, with private launches on hand to ferry guests to and from the event. For the last decade, though, the festival has been angling for some of that Cannes glam, making the most of its traditional early September date to tempt studios and stars keen to promote their autumn slew of big-budget movies. But at least Venice has recognised that there is life beyond Godard and Antonioni. All Rights Reserved. If you see anything that you know to be incorrect please visit our feedback page so that we can correct it.