MUMBAI: The Venice film festival will not be postponed and will be held as planned, reports Variety.

The website has quoted Veneto governor Luca Zaia as saying that the world’s longest-running film festival will take place between September 2 and 12.

The prestigious film festival will be held as planned, even though the number of films will be less than the normal this year.

Though the Venice Biennale, which oversees the film festival, postponed its Biennale of Architecture to next year, has been postponed, the film festival’s dates weren’t changed.

The Biennale of Architecture was postponed, according to the governor, due to complexities with regard to building the pavilions.

Venice had sent a letter to film industry executives, filmmakers, actors and producers if they are willing to attend the film festival. They were also asked to share their concerns and suggestions about the festival.

The letter, signed by Venice’s artistic director Alberto Barbera, also asked producers and sales agents about the possibility of “bringing talent to accompany the invited films.”

It further said: “We know that it would be simply impossible to plan a festival without knowing if you all are willing to use the Festival to give a new start and a strong sign for keeping cinema alive, even in these difficult times.”

The oldest film festival in Europe, the Venice Film Festival started in Venice, Italy in August 1932. It is considered one of the big five film festivals, like the Cannes Film Festival in France, the Berlin International Film Festival in Germany, the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada and the Sundance Film Festival in the US. The festival is part of the Venice Biennale, one of the oldest exhibitions of art in the entire world, founded by the Venice City Council on 19 April 1893. The festival is held on the island of the Lido in the Venice Lagoon.

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