Marina Cicogna: A Pioneering Force in Italian Cinema and the Venice Film Festival

Marina Cicogna: The Iconic Face of the Venice Film Festival

Marina Cicogna was not just a notable figure in the world of cinema; she was a vibrant force who, at various points in her illustrious career, transformed the landscape of the film industry. Known for throwing lavish parties that even Bacchus would have envied, she was also the talent behind the lens, having photographed legends like Greta Garbo and Marilyn Monroe, both of whom were her friends. Her achievements included co-producing the Oscar-winning film Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion and distributing works from revered directors such as Luchino Visconti, Luis Buñuel, and Pier Paolo Pasolini.

Born in 1934, just two years after her grandfather, Giuseppe Volpi—who was one of Benito Mussolini’s finance ministers—helped establish the Venice Film Festival, Cicogna became synonymous with the event. Over the decades, she played a pivotal role in transforming the festival into a global phenomenon. Beyond her contributions to the festival, she was a passionate advocate for Italian cinema, serving as both a producer and distributor while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of what women could accomplish in a predominantly male-dominated industry.

Those who were fortunate enough to know Cicogna, who passed away in November at the age of 89, often described her as not only a strikingly glamorous figure but also as a generous and endlessly inquisitive filmmaker. Alongside her grandfather’s profound legacy and the family’s considerable wealth, her mother, Countess Annamaria Volpi di Misurata, owned Euro International Films, which laid a solid foundation for Cicogna’s deep immersion into the world of Italian cinema.

“When Marina emerged as a distributor and producer in the late 1960s, she marked the arrival of a new and significant presence,” said Gian Piero Brunetta, a historian of Italian cinema and author of The Venice International Film Festival, 1932-2022. “She was perfectly positioned to interpret the seismic shifts occurring in Italian cinema during this era. Movies began to engage in meaningful dialogues with audiences and tackle contemporary issues, and Marina was a key player in all of this.”

Her individualism and passion for film were palpable to those around her, from the biggest stars to writers and directors, all of whom benefited from her unwavering commitment to the festival and the flourishing Italian film industry that followed the post-World War II neorealism movement. Although a festival spokeswoman confirmed there are no official plans to honor Cicogna at this year’s festival, which runs from Wednesday through September 7, her indelible mark on cinema remains undeniable.