A new podcast released today by COSMO italiano features an interview with Vincenzo Bugno, the recently departed head of the Berlinale’s World Cinema Fund, discussing the 76th Berlin International Film Festival and the future of cinema. The interview, conducted by Francesco Marzano, as well touches on the state of Italian and German cinema.
Bugno, who was born in Venice and has lived in Berlin since 1988, served as director of the World Cinema Fund for 21 years, stepping down at the conclude of 2025. The fund, a key component of the Berlinale, focuses on supporting and promoting film projects aimed at democratizing the global cinematic landscape. According to the Berlinale’s official biography, Bugno’s work with the WCF involved financing 370 artistically innovative projects, many of which have been showcased at prominent international film festivals.
Prior to his long tenure with the World Cinema Fund, Bugno worked as a journalist and film critic for Italian and Swiss media, contributing to publications such as “Corriere della Sera,” “Manifesto,” and “Ciak.” He also created reports and documentaries on cinema for television broadcasters including Arte, ZDF, Tele+, and Sky Italia. He was a member of the programming committee at the Locarno Film Festival from 2006 to 2009, leading its Open Door section.
Bugno’s departure from the World Cinema Fund coincides with his new role as artistic director of the Bolzano Film Festival, a position he assumed in 2023. He is also currently a curator for the TorinoFilmLab – FeatureLab, according to cinecittanews.it. The podcast explores Bugno’s perspectives on these new responsibilities and how they relate to his long-standing commitment to supporting independent and diverse filmmaking.
The podcast also addresses political controversies surrounding this year’s Berlinale, as well as broader questions about the viability of cinema as a physical space and cultural institution. The interview is available for listening until February 20, 2027, via the ARD Audiothek.
