Serena Rossi to be honored with Passion for Film Award at Venice International Film Festival
Italian actress Serena Rossi will receive the Campari Passion for Film Award at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. [Courtesy photo]
The prestigious Italian festival is set for Sept. 2-12 on the island of Lido di Venezia.
The Campari Passion for Film Award is an accolade created to honor the talent, dedication, and bold artistic vision of those who transform passion into a driving creative force. The award, presented in collaboration with the artistic direction of Biennale Cinema, honors those who turn passion into a driving creative force — not simply as a lifetime achievement, but as a tribute to the will to stand out and leave an indelible mark on the art of cinematic storytelling.
Alberto Barbera, director of the Venice International Film Festival, said in a statement that the award “celebrates an artist who has turned cinema and performing arts not merely into a profession, but into a true expression of passion, artistic exploration, and connection with the audience.”
“An actress, singer, and performer of extraordinary sensitivity, she has crossed diverse genres and mediums, consistently demonstrating an ability to bring naturalness and authenticity to every role she plays,” Barbera said of Rossi. “Her characters combine vulnerability and determination, irony and emotion, energy and grace. From cinema to television, comedy to drama, voice acting to music, she has displayed a versatility that is never mere transformation, but the outcome of profound artistic curiosity and a genuine commitment to her craft. These qualities make her a free and curious artist, capable of constantly challenging herself and taking on new ventures without ever losing her identity.”
The ceremony for the award to Serena Rossi will take place on Sept. 10 in the Sala Grande (Palazzo del Cinema) before the screening out of competition of the Italian film “Scherzetto” (“Trick”), the new film by Mario Martone, produced by Mad Entertainment with Rai Cinema, in association with EDI Effetti Digitali Italiani and Picomedia. Rossi stars alongside Toni Servillo, Lorenzo Perrotta, Leonardo Lidi, Giovanni Ludeno and Gianluca Di Gennaro.
“Through her extraordinary ability to engage audiences, portray intense and multifaceted characters, and bring to life stories that both move and surprise, Serena embodies the spirit of passion and authenticity that unite great cinema and the world of Campari. An artistic journey that the Campari Passion for Film Award is proud to celebrate at this year’s edition of the Festival,” said Alberto Ponchio, senior marketing director for Campari Group, in a statement.
The Campari Passion for Film Award, introduced eight years ago at the 75th edition of the Venice Film Festival, has previously been awarded to American film editor Bob Murawski, Italian cinematographer Luca Bigazzi, American composer Terence Blanchard, British production designer Marcus Rowland, American costume designer Arianne Phillips, Italian production designers Tonino Zera and Paola Comencini and American director Gus Van Sant.
“To me, it is always a great joy to return to the Lido. Many unforgettable memories tie me to this place, first of all the wonderful experience I had conducting the opening and closing nights, and it is a true honor to receive the Campari Passion for Film Award,” Rossi said in a statement. “Passion, the spur to constantly put myself to the test and to search for that authentic connection with the public, have always been the one, true guiding purpose of my work. To return here, this time in the company of maestro Mario Martone, Toni Servillo, and the rest of the cast to present ‘Scherzetto’ (‘Trick’), makes this festival even more special for me.”
Rossi debuted in theater at age 16. She found success with TV series such as “Il Commissario Montalbano” (“Detective Montalbano”) and “Adriano Olivetti” and in cinema with the movies “Song ‘e Napule” (“Song of Napoli”), “Ammore e Malavita” (“Love and Bullets”), “La Tristezza ha il sonno leggero” (“Sadness Has a Light Sleep”) and “Lasciami andare” (“You Came Back”), to name a few.
She broke through as an actress and singer thanks to her portrayal of Mia Martini in the film “Io sono Mia.”
As a voice performer, she has lent her voice to various Walt Disney characters. During this same period, she also began her career as a television host.
Since 2021, she has played the title role in “Mina Settembre,” starring as a social worker in the TV blockbuster on Rai1. Also in 2021, Rossi was chosen by the Biennale di Venezia to host the opening and closing nights of the 78th Venice Film Festival, and she was tapped for the cast of “Diabolik,” directed by the Manetti Bros.
In 2022, she starred in the successful series on Rai1 “La Sposa” (“The Bride”); she hosted “Danza con Me,” starring Roberto Bolle; and she starred in the Sky Original comedy “Beata Te.”
In 2023, she was a guest star in an episode of the Sky series “Call my Agent,” and she co-starred in the Netflix film “Il treno dei Bambini” (“The Children’s Train”), directed by Cristina Comencini, which was released in 2024. She also in the cast of “Uonderbois” (“Wonderboys: the Secret Treasure of Naples”) for Disney, in which she plays the role of a bad guy.
Last year, Rossi lent her voice to the evil witch in the Disney movie “Snow White,” and she appeared in Italy’s most prestigious theaters with her first stage show, “SereNata a Napoli,” which she created. She was also in the cast of the TV series “La Famiglia Panini – L’Avventura delle Figurine,” produced by Indigo Film in collaboration with Rai Fiction, which will air on Rai1, and she shot for Netflix the movie “Non abbiamo bisogno di Parole” (“Feel My Voice”), based on the film “La Famille Belier.”
On Jan. 30, 2026, her first record debuted. “SereNata a Napoli,” released by Warner Music Italy, is a collection of the most intense pieces she has performed onstage, and her tour of the same titled show is ongoing.
Along with “Scherzetto,” she also has recently filmed the Rai TV series “L’Ombra,” by the Manetti Bros.
explore: film festivals | Scherzetto | Serena Rossi | Trick | Venice International Film FestivalWelcome to The Week In Women, an AWFJ Network Blog authored by Brandy McDonnell
An Alliance of Women Film Journalists blog.