83rd Venice International Film Festival Announces 2026 Venice Production Bridge Focus Countries: Switzerland and Greece in the Spotlight

The 83rd Venice International Film Festival, organized by La Biennale di Venezia and directed by Alberto Barbera, will take place on the Lido di Venezia from September 2 to 12, 2026. The Festival is officially recognized by the FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Associations).

The aim of the Festival is to raise awareness and promote international cinema in all its forms—as art, entertainment, and as an industry—in a spirit of freedom and dialogue. One section is devoted to enhancing the restoration of classic films, contributing to a better understanding of the history of cinema.

La Biennale di Venezia announces that Greece and Switzerland will be this year’s Focus countries for the Venice Production Bridge, the industry program of the Venice Film Festival. The Venice Production Bridge will be held from September 3 to 9, 2026, during the 83rd Venice International Film Festival (September 2-12, 2026). The Venice Production Bridge is supported by the European Commission’s MEDIA Fund.

The Focus on Switzerland is initiated and supported by SWISS FILMS, while the Focus on Greece is supported by the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center S.A – Ekkomed S.A.

Following successful participation as Country in Focus at the Marché du Film in Cannes in 2024 and the Animated Video Market in Stuttgart in 2025, SWISS FILMS continues its collaboration with key film markets in neighboring countries. Details of the activities in Venice and participating partners will be announced at a later date.

The Venice Production Bridge Focus will shine a spotlight on each of these countries through specially selected projects presented by their directors and producers at the Venice Gap-Financing Market, showcasing recent publications available for adaptation at the Book Adaptation Rights Market, works-in-progress co-productions at Final Cut in Venice, presentations at Meet the Streamers, film commissions at the VPB Locations Market, as well as Immersive projects.

A significant delegation of key decision-makers from each of the Focus countries will attend the Venice Production Bridge. This delegation will include representatives from public funding bodies and private financial institutions, festivals, producers, broadcasters and streamers, sales agents, and distributors, alongside VR/XR/AR creatives and post-production companies present at the Venice Immersive Market.

In 2026, the Venice Production Bridge Focus will offer a comprehensive overview of the industry and filmmaking community of each Focus country through a series of dedicated panels, meetings, and networking events.

The 83rd Venice International Film Festival, directed by Alberto Barbera and organized by La Biennale di Venezia, will be held on the Lido from September 2 to 12, 2026.