{{Short description|Italian film critic and festival curator (born 1950)}} {{Infobox person | name = Alberto Barbera | image = Alberto Barbera-64787.jpg | caption = Barbera in 2024 | birth_date = {{Birth-date and age|20 February 1950}} | birth_place = Biella, Italy | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Film critic | yearsactive = }} '''Alberto Barbera''' (born 20 February 1950) is an Italian film critic and festival curator, who is director of the Venice Film Festival.
== Life and career == Born in Biella, Barbera graduated in modern literature with a thesis about cinema history, and then started collaborating with the Turin film association AIACE, being its president between 1977 and 1989.<ref name="sole">{{cite news |title=Alberto Barbera è il nuovo direttore della Mostra del Cinema di Venezia |url=https://st.ilsole24ore.com/art/cultura/2011-12-27/alberto-barbera-nuovo-direttore-173433.shtml?uuid=AayFDOYE |access-date=20 August 2023 |work=Il Sole 24 Ore|date=27 December 2011 |language=it}}</ref> Between 1980 and 1983 he was the film critic of the newspaper ''Gazzetta del Popolo'',<ref name="sole" /> and later collaborated with several publications, including ''La Stampa'', as well as with radio and television programs.<ref name="bio">{{cite web |title=Barbera, Alberto |url=https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/alberto-barbera/ |website=Enciclopedia Treccani |access-date=20 August 2023 |language=it-IT}}</ref> In 1982, he began a long collaboration with the Turin Film Festival, first as press officer, then as secretary-general and member of the selection committee from 1984 to 1988, and finally as director from 1989 to 1998.<ref name="sole" /><ref name="bio" />
Between December 1998 and April 2002 Barbera was president of the Venice Film Festival, heading three editions (1999, 2000 and 2001).<ref name="sole" /><ref name="bio" /> In 2004, he was nominated director of the National Museum of Cinema in Turin, a role he held until 2016.<ref name="sole" /><ref name="bio" /><ref>{{cite web| url =https://www.labiennale.org/it/news/alberto-barbera-nominato-direttore-artistico-della-biennale-cinema-il-biennio-2025-e-2026| title =Alberto Barbera nominato Direttore Artistico della Biennale Cinema per il biennio 2025 e 2026| date =2024-05-10 | publisher = La Biennale| access-date =2024-08-20}}</ref> In December 2011, Barbera was appointed president of the Venice Festival for the second time.<ref name="sole" /><ref name="bio" /> He was confirmed in this role for two more mandates, with the last term set to expire in 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Giampaolo |first1=Claudia |title=Mostra di Venezia, Alberto Barbera confermato direttore per altri quattro anni |url=https://www.ciakmagazine.it/festival/mostra-di-venezia-alberto-barbera-confermato-direttore-per-altri-quattro-anni/ |access-date=20 August 2023 |work=Ciak |date=27 October 2020 |language=it-IT}}</ref> In May 2024, his last mandate was extended until 2026.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Roxborough |first1=Scott |title=Alberto Barbera Extends Contract as Venice Film Festival Director Through 2026 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/venice-film-festival-alberto-barbera-director-2026-1235895533/ |access-date=3 July 2024 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=10 May 2024}}</ref> In March 2026, his tenure was prolonged, setting its new end date in 2028.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vivarelli |first1=Nick |title=Alberto Barbera to Remain Venice Film Festival Artistic Director Through 2028 |url=https://variety.com/2026/film/festivals/alberto-barbera-venice-artistic-director-2028-1236677837/ |access-date=4 March 2026 |work=Variety |date=3 March 2026}}</ref>
== Awards and accolades == *2000 — titled ''Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres'' in France; *2019 — ranked one of the ''500 most influential persons in show business'' by ''Variety''; *2021 — International Achievement in Film Award by ''Variety''; *2022 — Special Mention at Gotham Awards.<ref>{{cite web | url =https://tg24.sky.it/spettacolo/cinema/2024/05/10/mostra-cinema-venezia-alberto-barbera-direttore | title =Mostra del Cinema di Venezia, Alberto Barbera confermato direttore artistico fino al 2026 | date =2024-05-10 | publisher = SKY | access-date =2024-08-20}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Barbera, Alberto }} Category:1950 births Category:Living people Category:People from Biella Category:Italian film critics