The Venice Film Festival (it: Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica) is the oldest Film Festival in the World (began in the 1932) and takes place every year in late August/early September on the Lido di Venezia in the historic Palazzo del Cinema on the Lungomare Marconi, in Venice, Italy.

Its main award is the "Leone d'Oro" (Golden Lion). Recently, a new award has been added, the San Marco Award for the best film in the "controcorrente" section.

The Venice Film Festival is part of the Venice Biennale, a major biennial exhibition and festival for contemporary art.

The festival in 2004 held from 1 September to 11 September was the 61st. For the 2005 festival see the 62nd Venice International Film Festival.