Empowering the future of film with La Biennale di Venezia

The future of cinema relies on giving new voices the space, freedom and resources to experiment. Without the opportunity to develop ambitious ideas and bring them to the screen, the next generation of visionary filmmakers may never reach their audiences.

It is with this belief that the Bukhman Foundation is joining La Biennale di Venezia as lead supporter of Biennale College – Cinema, beginning with the programme’s 15th edition, 2026–2027.

Our three-year commitment, totalling €3 million, reflects our broader mission of expanding access to creativity and arts education, and creating meaningful opportunities for emerging artists.

Launched by La Biennale di Venezia in 2012, Biennale College – Cinema is an international laboratory dedicated to emerging filmmakers from around the world. Over the course of a year, selected filmmakers develop microbudget feature films through a series of workshops, working with mentors and an international community of filmmakers and creative professionals.

For its 15th edition, 12 projects have been selected, bringing together filmmakers and collaborators from India, Italy, Jamaica, China, Hong Kong, the United States, Rwanda, Romania, Kazakhstan, the United Kingdom, Bolivia, Kenya and South Africa.

The first phase of the programme will take place from 5 to 15 October in San Servolo, where the selected teams will come together for the initial selection and development workshop. Following this phase, a maximum of four projects will be selected to continue through two further workshops. Each of the final four projects will receive €200,000 in production support to complete their films, with the resulting works set to have their world premieres at the 84th Venice International Film Festival of La Biennale di Venezia.

Our co-founder, Anastasia Bukhman, said: “Biennale College Cinema embodies so much of what we believe meaningful arts philanthropy can achieve: giving emerging talent the opportunity, resources and creative freedom to realise ambitious ideas. At the Bukhman Foundation, we have long admired La Biennale’s commitment to new voices and experimentation, and we are proud to support a programme with such a strong international outlook and track record. We are excited to see the films and careers that will emerge from this next generation of filmmakers.”

About La Biennale di Venezia
La Biennale di Venezia was founded in 1895 and is now one of the most famous and prestigious cultural organizations in the world. La Biennale, who stands at the forefront of research and promotion of new contemporary art trends, organizes exhibitions and research in all its specific departments: Arts (1895), Architecture (1980), Cinema (1932), Dance (1999), Music (1930), and Theatre (1934). The Art Biennale has been recognised as the world leader in contemporary art exhibitions and the Venice International Film Festival at the Lido - the oldest in the world dating to 1932- has remained one of the most prestigious events of its kind worldwide.

Images

Jacopo Salvi. Courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia ASAC.