The 'Big Three' film festivals are Venice (the world's oldest, founded 1932, held late August to September on the Lido), Cannes (France, May) and Berlin (February). Their top prizes are a golden palm, a golden bear and a golden lion. Venice also gives the Volpi Cup for acting. The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF, September) gives a People's Choice Award and a juried Platform Prize. Satyajit Ray and Mira Nair have won Venice's top prize.
Key facts
- Venice is the oldest festival in the world (1932), part of the Venice Biennale; the Volpi Cup is its acting prize.
- Cannes's top prize has been awarded under its present name since 1955; the Berlinale, held in February, is the youngest of the three (first held 1951).
- Toronto (TIFF) has no competition jury for its main award: the People's Choice Award is voted by the audience.
Latest
The 83rd Venice festival (2 to 12 September 2026, jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal) gave its top prize to Woman Unknown; Mathilde Arcel and John Malkovich won the Volpi Cups.
Why exams ask about it
Questions match a prize to its festival, or ask which Indian film won at Toronto, Venice or Cannes this year.