Serena Rossi to Receive Venice Fest’s Passion for Film Award, Hollywood Reporter Says

Serena Rossi will receive the Venice Film Festival’s Passion for Film award, The Hollywood Reporter reported on Aug. 4, 2026. The announcement places the Italian actress in the spotlight during the festival’s run, with organizers also tying the honor to the festival’s broader industry and audience-facing programming. Rossi’s next major on-screen appearance will come in Mario Martone’s film “Scherzetto,” which is scheduled to premiere out of competition at Venice. According to the report, Rossi is slated to appear alongside Toni Servillo in the project, a casting pairing that indicates continued attention to established Italian acting talent entering the festival circuit. The report also frames the award announcement in the context of festival partners. “Passion for Film” is presented as an award associated with the Venice Film Festival experience and is described in connection with Campari in the Hollywood Reporter coverage. For Rossi, the recognition adds to the pattern of festival honors that often bring additional visibility for upcoming releases and professional collaborations. For Venice, the award functions as a form of cultural programming that complements the festival’s competitive slate while spotlighting artists and industry figures in adjacent events. “Scherzetto” marks a new collaboration between Rossi and director Martone, joining Servillo in the film’s ensemble. By placing the title out of competition, Venice will present it without the same formal pathway as its contest entries, but the festival appearance still typically carries strong press attention and industry matchmaking value for distributors and publicists tracking audience interest. The Hollywood Reporter’s coverage did not, in the information provided for this report, specify release plans beyond the Venice premiere timing. Additional details about Rossi’s role in “Scherzetto,” the film’s release window after the festival, and the formal award ceremony date were not included in the supplied account and therefore are not reflected here. The next steps for festival audiences and industry participants are tied to Venice’s programming schedule, starting with Rossi’s appearance and the formal presentation of the Passion for Film award during the festival period, followed by the out-of-competition screening of “Scherzetto.”