04/03/2004 - The producer takes over from Moritz De Hadeln at the helm of the Festival. The president of the Biennale, Croff, proposed a 4 year contract, but the appointment will be re-confirmed within the 1st year

The new director of the Venice Film Festival is Marco Müller, who is taking over from Moritz De Hadeln. Müller has been appointed for a four year term, with the contract being re-confirmed in the first year. The Biennale board of management had discussed the possibility of re-examining the contract after the end of the 2004 edition of the Venice Festival.

Müller's name was put forward by the president of the Biennale, Davide Croff. The appointment was not universally welcomed by the members of the board of management, but no one voted against his appointment.
Marco Müller is the former director of the Locarno, Rotterdam and Pesaro festivals. he is currently a producer working with Downtown Pictures.