The 13th edition of the Venice Film Festival Gap-Financing Market has officially announced its lineup of 66 projects seeking closing finance. This year’s selection includes a diverse range of films from around the world, with 31 features already having secured at least 70% of their funding in place.

Among the featured filmmakers are acclaimed directors Lav Diaz, Ursula Meier, and Jessica Hausner, who have been recognized for their exceptional work in the film industry. The Venice Gap-Financing Market provides a platform for emerging filmmakers to connect with industry professionals, securing funding for their projects.

Focus on Greece and Switzerland

In 2026, the VPB Focus will be on Greece, supported by Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre, and Switzerland, supported by Swiss Films. This focus on these two countries highlights the importance of nurturing emerging talent and promoting their work on a global stage.

Lineup of Projects

The lineup of projects includes:

• A YEAR WITHOUT SUMMER (Switzerland, Germany) by Flurin Giger, Beauvoir Films, Heimatfilm – Focus on Switzerland
• African Grey (Greece, Bulgaria) by Yorgos Goussis, Plankton Films – Focus on Greece
• All Clear (Ukraine, Germany, Luxembourg) by Christina Tynkevych, Evos Film
• An Entry into a Portuguese Woman’s Sadness (France, Philippines, Portugal) by Lav Diaz, Films Boutique
• Ballad of the Phoenix (Mexico) by Rodolfo Ambriz Rendón and Arturo Ambriz Rendón, Woo Films, Cinema Fantasma
• Cábula (Mexico, Spain) by Lila Avités, Pimienta Films
• Chocolat Amer (Switzerland, Germany, France) by Valentin Merz, Cinédokké – Focus on Switzerland
• Untitled Water Documentary (Chile, Canada) by Carola Fuentes, La Ventana Cine, Intuitive Pictures
• Don’t Let the Sun Go Up on Me (Morocco, Norway, France, Chile) by Asmae El Moudir, Insight Films, Haut et Court Doc, Quijote Films, Lofoten Film
• Faux Bijoux (France, Lebanon, Belgium) by Jessy Moussallem, Vixens
• Holiday (France, Italy, Greece, Lebanon) by Wissam Charaf, Aurora Films, Intramovies, Marni Films, Né à Beyrouth Films
• Kurinji (India, France, Germany) by Payal Sethi, FilmKaravan, Blue Monday Productions, 70 Steps
• Kyushu Moon (Switzerland, France) by Stéphanie Argerich, Intermezzo Films, Les Films du Bélier – Focus on Switzerland
• La Manche (Poland, Germany, France) by Damian Kocur, Kijora Film, Les Contes Modernes, Oma Inge
• Land of Savages (Colombia, United States, Chile) by Fernando Guzzoni, Oso Films
• Light Boxes (Bulgaria, Canada, France, Belgium, Poland) by Theodore Ushev, Cinelibri
• Lionfish (Greece, Germany) by Thanasis Trouboukis, asterisk*, Studio Zentral – Focus on Greece
• Magnum Opus (Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Moldova) by Bogdan Mirica, deFilm
• News from Lod, a Letter to Chantal Akerman (France, Belgium) by Michale Boganim, Blue Train Films
• Patrimal Fears and Other Illusions (Greece, The Netherlands, Cyprus) by Elina Psykou, Jungle Films, Homemade Films, StudioBauhaus, Studio Ruba, Bark Like a Cat Films – Focus on Greece
• Primo Viaggio (Italy, France) by Alessandro Cassigoli and Casey Kauffman, Sacher Film, Halley Production
• Quiet Land (Switzerland, France, Canada) by Ursula Meier, Bande à part Films, Paradise City Films – Focus on Switzerland
• Salut Robert (USA, Switzerland, France) by Laura Israel, Correspondent
• Shitballs (Iceland, Canada) by Alfrun Ornolfsdottir, Compass Films
• Something Strange Happened to Me (Ukraine, United Kingdom) by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, Mellivora Production
• Stallions (Morocco, United States) by Rita Baghdadi, Lady & Bird Films
• The Amateurs (Chile, Argentina) by Felipe Solari Yrigoyen, Quijote Films
• The Funeral (Brazil, Portugal, Romania) by Carolina Markowicz, Biônica Filmes
• The Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Norway, Sweden, Germany) by Lene Berg, Twentyone Pictures
• The Langfang Republic (Japan, France, Taipei) by Katsuya Tomita, Kuzoku
• The Rope (Italy, Switzerland) by Alberto Fasulo, Nefertiti Film
• The Smuggler (Switzerland, Greece, France) by Kaveh Bakhtiari, Beauvoir Films, Homemade Films, TS Productions – Focus on Greece
• They Burn in the Same Way (Argentina, Brazil) by Clarisa Navas, Gentil Cine
• Toxic (Austria, Germany, France, Sweden) by Jessica Hausner, Schubert
• Urihi – The Forest-Land (Brazil) by Morzaniel Iramari, Aruac Filmes
• Wake (Greece, Cyprus, Serbia) by Thelyia Petraki, Filmiki & Out the Box – Focus on Greece
• Wolfmother (France, Morocco) by Ismaël El Iraki, Special Touch Studios, Kasbah Films
• Ya & Niki (Italy, France, Lebanon) by Rä Di Martino, Dugong Films

Immersive Projects

The Venice Film Festival Gap-Financing Market has also announced 14 immersive projects, including fiction, documentary, animation film, and other interactive installation-based experiences. These projects have secured 30% of their budget and have this financing in place.

• After the Flood (Germany) by Chloé Lee, Reynard Films
• A Funeral for the Internet (USA, United Kingdom) by Samantha Gorman and Scarlett Kim, Thresholds & Co.
• Animal Being (United Kingdom) by Barnaby Steel, Ersin Han Ersin and Robin McNicholas, Marshmallow Laser Feast
• Gloomy Eyes & the Last Standing (Taipei, France, Argentina) by Jorge Tereso and Fernando Maldonado, HTC VIVE Originals, Atlas V, 3dar
• Hide and Seek (Switzerland, France) by Fabienne Giezendanner, Elefant Films – Focus on Switzerland
• Marta Becket’s Death Valley (Switzerland) by Gilles Jobin and Susana Panadés Diaz, Cie Gilles Jobin, Studio 44 MocapLab – Focus on Switzerland
• Montmartre, La Nuit (France) by Pierre-Alain Giraud and Stéphane Foenkinos, Novaya
• Opi and the Quiet Ones (Argentina) by Federico Carlini, Jorge Tereso and Fernando Maldonado, 3DAR LTDA
• Pilgrims (United Kingdom) by DARKFIELD
• Race Against the Machine (Brazil) by Amir Admoni and Fabito Rychter, Delirium XR
• The Berlin Wall (France, Germany) by Karim Ben Khelifa and Tina Ahrens, Lucid Realities, Filmtank
• The Mysteries of Eleusis (USA, Greece) by John Fitzgerald and Simon Critchley, Techno Firma, Onassis Onx – Focus on Greece
• The River Within You (Taipei) by Hsin Hsuan Yeh, Joyful Beings Animation Studio
• Wolf – of Hide and Flesh (Belgium) by Alex Verhaest, Timescapes

Biennale College Cinema – Immersive Projects

The Biennale College Cinema – Immersive Projects have also been announced, featuring 11 projects that have been developed during the workshop of Biennale College Cinema Immersive, 10th edition. These projects have reached different stages of development, pre-production, and post-production.

• Damned (France, Ukraine) by Nataliya Velikanova, Da Prod
• Isabella, Mad with Love (Germany, Italy) by Giulia Falciani, Studio Fazi
• Mystis (United Kingdom) by Tatiana Collet Apraxine, Onism Studio
• Oubliette (Taipei) by Wen-Yee Hsieh, Wen-E Studio
• Pelle (Italy) by Stefano Conca Bonizzoni, Officine Creative-University of Pavia
• Prime