Lago Film Fest Cancels 11th Edition Over Lack of Institutional Support

The 10th edition of Lago Film Fest concluded in July 2014 with hundreds of international titles, premieres, prestigious guests, and a bucolic setting at Revine Lago near Treviso. Despite its success, directors Carlo Migotto and Viviana Carlet announced the 11th edition will not take place due to exhaustion and lack of institutional support. The festival, which costs approximately €100,000 but would require double that to cover real expenses, relies on a team of 100 unpaid volunteers. Funding from the Province of Treviso and Veneto Region amounts to only 6-7% of the budget; the rest comes from sponsors like Oxydo, local businesses, ticket sales, and volunteer labor. Migotto criticized the administrations for insufficient resources, bureaucratic delays, and unpaid debts from previous editions. Vice President of Veneto Region and Culture Councillor Marino Zorzato acknowledged the festival's importance but stated that public funds are limited and cannot automatically increase as events grow. The cancellation marks the end of a project that generated tourism, cultural return, and social impact for the small town of 800 inhabitants, which hosted 15,000 visitors during the festival.