Exploring the magic and passion of cinema and film in partnership with the 77th International Venice Film Festival

A well-made film can take us on a fantastic adventure, allows us to revisit familiar places and explore the new and different, while it transports us into new worlds, changed worlds, different worlds and a new way of seeing our world. Today, cinema has an even richer role to play as we navigate the uncertainty of the world around us. Great film has the power to not only offer new insights to see “life through a different lens”, but also to connect us through shared experiences.

It is therefore only fitting for Mastercard to #StartSomethingPriceless by partnering with the world’s longest running film festival, La Biennale di Venezia to share the thoughts, learning and insights of some of the world’s most acclaimed directors, actors, cinematographers, writers and artists. Passionate filmmakers are able to open our eyes to new worlds, new ideas and ignite emotions. This is a job not only for directors, but the actors and behind-the-scenes artists who create the magic onscreen, illustrating life from a different perspective and taking us on a new adventure with them from the moment the opening credits roll.

While this year’s festival has been unique in format, our “Life Through a Different Lens: Contactless Connections” conversation series has enabled us to virtually explore this captivating art form through firsthand experiences and advice for the next generation of filmmakers and everyone who has a passion for film. It’s been a thrill to speak with Demi Moore, Nadine Labaki, Gia Coppola, Wim Wenders, Luca Guadagnino, Sam Rockwell, Claire Denis and La Biennale di Venezia Festival Director Alberto Barbera.

Here are some of the themes we discussed

Impact of Cinema: Cinema humanizes problems and can be powerful because of its unique ability to build a collective and unifying experience. Through the lens of filmmaking, we have an opportunity to shine a light on issues, celebrate progress and bring healing and awareness in the hope of really creating meaningful movements for change.

Becoming an Actor: Is a journey.  It takes hard work and courage.  You have to challenge yourself to embrace roles that challenge you, that are different from your own life and allow you to see life through another’s eyes.  This is not just about making art, it is also an opportunity to confront fears, change opinions and make a difference.

Great Cinema: There’s always a truth in movies. It’s the characters, the place, the rhythm that make it true. Every filmmaker can make their own film history with creativity and great partners.