Venice Critics' Week Reveals 2026 Competition Films

The Settimana Internazionale della Critica (International Critics' Week), a parallel sidebar at the Venice Film Festival, announced its 2026 selection on July 25, 2024. This 41st edition will feature seven debut feature films in competition, alongside two films presented out of competition. The selection aims to highlight emerging directorial talent from around the globe.

Colombia is notably represented with two films in the competition lineup, marking a significant presence for the country's cinema. Other countries with films selected include China, Tunisia, and Italy. The jury for the 2026 edition will be composed of five international critics, who will award the Grand Prize of the Verona Film Club to one of the competing features.

The International Critics' Week, organized by the Union of Italian Film Critics (SNCCI), is dedicated to discovering and promoting new voices in filmmaking. The opening film for the 2026 edition will be "The Summer House" by Italian director Valerio Mieli. The closing film, presented out of competition, is "The Great Picture Show" by Italian director Francesco Giammusso.

This year's selection received over 1,000 submissions from filmmakers worldwide, with the final lineup representing a diverse range of genres and narrative styles. The festival will run from August 28 to September 7, 2026, with screenings taking place in Venice.