Venice Days, the independent sidebar of the Venice International Film Festival, has revealed its lineup for its 23rd edition, the first since the March death of founder and longtime head Giorgio Gosetti, to whom the programme is dedicated. Running from 2 to 12 September alongside the main 83rd Venice Festival, the sidebar and its Italian cinema companion strand, Venice Nights, will present 25 world premieres, more than half directed by women, underlining the festival's continued push for greater female representation in its selections.

The line-up opens with Lili Horváth's English-language debut "My Notes on Mars", starring Mackenzie Davis and Rupert Friend, and closes with Léa Domenach's "Man's Skin", a queer feminist musical comedy featuring Catherine Deneuve, screening out of competition. Competition titles include Kuba Dorabialski's "Agata the Writer" starring Mia Wasikowska, Nicola Sorcinelli's "Balcanica" as the sole Italian competition entry, and Damilola Orimogunje's "Dear Ajayi", the first Nigerian film to screen in the section's competition. An all-woman jury led by Carla Simón will award the GdA Director's Award, worth €20,000 (about $23,000), while separate audience and Europa Cinemas prizes will also be handed out.