Remembering Giorgio Gosetti: A Pillar of Italian Cinema

Giorgio Gosetti, a prominent Italian film critic and the founder of the Venice Film Festival's Venice Days, has passed away at the age of 70. His death was announced by the Italian news agency ANSA and the Venice Biennale, although the cause has not been disclosed.

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Born in Venice in 1956, Gosetti began his association with the Venice Film Festival in 1980, during a period of revitalization under artistic director Carlo Lizzani. He played a significant role in curating various sections of the festival, including the “Venezia ieri” sidebar and the “Notti veneziane” section from 1992 to 1996. In 2004, he established the Venice Days (Giornate Degli Autori), an independently-run section of the festival modeled after Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight, which received support from Italian film directors’ associations such as ANAC and 100autori.

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Gosetti's influence extended beyond Venice; he co-directed the Cinema section of the Rome Film Festival and founded the Courmayeur Noir in Festival in 1991. He also directed Italy’s MystFest and Antenna Cinema festivals. His academic contributions included teaching at Bologna’s DAMS Master’s Degree program and serving on the board of the Italian Association of Film Festivals (AFIC). Gosetti authored numerous publications on notable filmmakers, including Marguerite Duras and Alfred Hitchcock.

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The Venice Biennale expressed profound sorrow over Gosetti's passing, stating, “His passing leaves a huge void in the festival community, in Italian film culture, and in all those who had the opportunity to know and appreciate his professionalism, his wisdom, his kind and human ways.” This sentiment reflects the significant impact Gosetti had on both the festival circuit and the broader Italian film landscape.

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While there are no direct criticisms reported regarding Gosetti's legacy, the film community has expressed a collective sense of loss. His contributions to film festivals and education have been widely recognized, and his absence is felt deeply among colleagues and admirers alike.

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• “His passing leaves a huge void in the festival community, in Italian film culture, and in all those who had the opportunity to know and appreciate his professionalism, his wisdom, his kind and human ways,” — Venice Biennale

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As the film community reflects on Gosetti's contributions, discussions may arise regarding tributes or memorials at upcoming film festivals, particularly in Venice, where his influence was most profound. His legacy will likely continue to inspire future generations of filmmakers and festival organizers.

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