The Madness of Genius
By Julie Sisk | April 7, 2026 “To build a city where it is impossible to build a city is madness in itself, but to build there one of the most elegant and grandest of cities is the madness of genius.” - Alexander Herzen Following Cannes, the natural question is: what comes next? Venice answers that differently.
Set against the quiet movement of the lagoon, Venice unfolds with a kind of composure. The pace is more measured. The experience, more contained. You begin to notice different things— not just the films, but the spaces around them, the conversations that have room to breathe.
The festival itself reflects this sensibility. The programming is selective, often more contemplative. The rhythm allows for reflection—for taking in a film, and then carrying it with you a little longer.
And beyond the festival, Venice offers something more. During this time, the Venice Biennale is also in full swing—opening up an entirely different dimension of artistic experience. Exhibitions, installations, and national pavilions create a dialogue between film, art, architecture, and culture that is unique to this moment.
There is, of course, a certain beauty to it all. Arriving by boat. Evenings that feel suspended in time. A city whose architecture and history are not simply a backdrop, but an essential part of the experience.
What distinguishes Venice is not simply its elegance, but the way it creates space—for the films, for the art, and for those moving through it.
In the end, it offers something quieter than Cannes, but no less meaningful. Next, we’ll turn to San Sebastian.
With love of cinema,
|
– Julie
