The Biennale di Venezia has announced that acclaimed Italian actress and writer Emanuela Fanelli will host both the opening and closing ceremonies of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, which will take place from August 27 to September 6, 2025.
Fanelli will take the stage at the Sala Grande of the Palazzo del Cinema on Venice Lido on Wednesday, August 27, to lead the festival’s opening night. She will also return for the closing ceremony on Saturday, September 6, when the Golden Lion and other official awards will be revealed.
Recognized as one of the most original and innovative voices in contemporary Italian cinema and television, Fanelli brings a rare blend of wit, depth, and authenticity to every performance. Her distinctive ability to seamlessly shift between comedy and drama has earned her critical acclaim and the admiration of a wide audience. Not only an actress, Fanelli is also an accomplished writer of her own monologues, which reflect a sharp, personal, and often ironic lens on modern life.
Born in Rome on July 6, 1986, Fanelli began her film career with a role in Claudio Caligari’s Non essere cattivo (2015). She went on to appear in several films including Gli ultimi saranno ultimi, Assolo, Beata ignoranza, and A mano disarmata. Her breakout television role came in the satirical series Dov’è Mario?, in which she starred alongside Corrado Guzzanti, with scripts co-written by the late Mattia Torre.
Fanelli gained a strong following as co-host of Una pezza di Lundini, a cult late-night show on Rai 2 known for its surreal and offbeat humor, which established her as a fresh voice for a new generation of viewers. She has also appeared in popular programs such as La TV delle ragazze – Gli Stati Generali, Battute?, and the Italian adaptations Call My Agent – Italia and No Activity – Niente da segnalare.
Her major cinematic breakthrough came with Siccità (Drought) by Paolo Virzì, presented at the Venice Film Festival, where her portrayal of Raffaella earned her the 2023 David di Donatello award for Best Supporting Actress. She followed up with another celebrated performance in C’è ancora domani (There’s Still Tomorrow), the directorial debut of Paola Cortellesi, which secured her a second David di Donatello.
In 2024, Fanelli reunited with Virzì for Un altro ferragosto, the sequel to his classic Ferie d’agosto. She also starred in Paolo Genovese’s box office hit Follemente, further confirming her status as a major force in Italian cinema.
A longtime collaborator on the radio show 610 by Lillo & Greg on Rai Radio 2 since 2016, Fanelli has also worked across formats, from music videos—such as Immigrato by Checco Zalone—to documentaries like I magnifici quattro della risata, which she narrated for the 2022 Rome Film Fest.
With a career marked by versatility and emotional intelligence, Emanuela Fanelli’s presence promises to bring a unique blend of humor, elegance, and authenticity to the Venice Film Festival’s most anticipated evenings.
