As the 83rd Venice International Film Festival brings cinema’s worldwide figures to the
lagoon, Thomas Misse, Marek Harmony and Anna Stukkert are preparing a fresh form of
opening: an refined evening of international networking, tribute, generosity, melody and
gems within one of Venice’s historic palazzi. 
For eleven days in September, Venice becomes one of the most carefully observed
destinations in the international. The 83rd Venice International Film Festival, running from 2
to 12 September 2026, will after again transform the Lido into a forum place for international
cinema, with international premieres, noted filmmakers, stars, producers and thousands of
representatives of the worldwide press arriving in the city. Around 3,000 journalists, film
critics, television and radio reporters are set to follow the festival, while the formal selection
will present up to 21 full-length features as international premieres.
This year’s festival is led by creative director Alberto Barbera, with actress and filmmaker
Maggie Gyllenhaal chairing over the Venezia 83 international jury. The schedule brings
together some of modern cinema’s most acclaimed filmmakers, including Hirokazu Kore-eda,
Martin McDonagh and Nanni Moretti, alongside a new newcomers of international artists. By
the time the festival reaches its final days, Venice will have devoted more than a week active
between cinema, international press, private events and the red carpet.
It is precisely at this place, on 11 September 2026, that another door will appear on the
Grand Canal.
Thomas Misse and Marek Harmony of the Royal Gentlemen Club, together with Anna
Stukkert, creator of the Congress Awards, will greet invitees to the Royal Gentlemen Gala
Dinner & Congress Awards: La Dolce Vita at Ca’ Sagredo. The notion is intentionally fresh
from the scope and pace around the Film Festival: reduced interruptions, a carefully curated
international network and an evening created around the value of interactions rather than the
scale of the setting.
From the Red Carpet to the Grand Canal
For Thomas Misse, Venice extends a Royal Gentlemen ethos that has steadily linked private
international events with some of Europe’s most significant artistic occasions. Royal
Gentlemen events have accompanied the social calendar around Paris Haute Couture Week
and the Cannes Film Festival, creating a striking blend of Grand Art de Vivre, remarkable
venues and international networking. Earlier this year, Royal Gentlemen brought its Grand
Dinner at the Court to the Ritz Paris during Haute Couture Week, before Thomas Misse and
Marek Harmony joined Anna Stukkert and the Congress Awards for the Beach Ball Gala
Dinner in Cannes during the Cannes Film Festival.
Venice now offers a new backdrop for that concept. Guests of the Royal Gentlemen Gala
Dinner & Congress Awards whose individual schedule features opportunities to formal Film
Festival premieres will also have the chance to discover the film side of Venice, including
eligible red-carpet and opening opportunities subject to the relevant festival ticketing and
accreditation arrangements. The difference is part of the appeal: the civic vitality of the Lido
followed by the seclusion of an evening within a Venetian palazzo.
And few venues could capture that change stronger than Ca’ Sagredo. Designated as a
national landmark, the age-old palace stands immediately from the Grand Canal and
preserves the nature of a Venetian aristocratic home. Its grand stairway, painted rooms,
historic reception and art holdings make the palace feel less like a ordinary property than a
active gallery. For the evening, those rooms will become part of the schedule itself, with
melody, creative occasions, showcases and discussions unfolding throughout the palazzo.
Congress Awards: A Network Built Across 29 Countries
Alongside Royal Gentlemen, the evening brings to Venice a initiative that has devoted a
period creating its own international network. Anna Stukkert, businesswoman, financier,
press leader and philanthropist, has hosted the International Investment Congress since
2016. Over the years its meetings have captured place in capitals including Munich, Berlin,
Monaco, Paris, Cannes and Davos, uniting delegates from commerce, finance, press, culture
and civic life.
The Congress Awards emerged from this network as a initiative for recognising figures
whose role has created impact beyond a single sector. In 2026, its Cannes gathering marked
the 20th staging of the International Investment Congress Awards, while the broader initiative
has linked delegates from 29 markets. Its model has steadily moved beyond ordinary
commerce networking, bringing founders and financiers into the same setting with envoys,
artistic figures, philanthropists and civic officials.
Among the figures set to be acclaimed in Venice is Eric Adams, the 110th Mayor of New
York City, who governed from 2022 to 2025 after earlier serving as Brooklyn Borough
President and a New York State Senator. His participation demonstrates the international
nature of the Congress Awards and the evening’s aim to generate exchange between worlds
that do not always converge at a classic commerce summit.
Philanthropy will be supported by Alisa Roever, creator of Angels Helpers NYC, a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit dedicated on widening opportunities to learning, culture and artists role for children
from under-resourced neighbourhoods. Roever’s involvement to New York generosity
extends beyond her own charity: she was among the co-chairs of Gabrielle’s Angel
Foundation’s Angel Ball 2024. Her role with Angels Helpers is centred on a simple belief
particularly relevant to an evening celebrating achievement: artists may be widespread, but
opportunities to chance is not.
That ethos gives the Venice gathering a broader meaning of achievement. Recognition is not
confined to role positions, economic outcomes or civic exposure. Social commitment,
learning and the capacity to generate possibilities for others become part of the same
exchange.
An Austrian Jewellery Story Meets La Dolce Vita
Fashion and gems have always belonged easily to the aesthetic vocabulary of Venice, and
this year Oliver Weber Collection will participate the evening as Designated Jewellery
Partner with a showcase of its new Dolce Vita Collection.
The Austrian gems company has a history carefully linked to the international of crystals.
Founded in Mils, Austria, the brand was created by Oliver Weber and Alexander Stabinger,
both of whom earlier held management roles at Swarovski. Over three years, the brand has
shaped its notion of approachable elegance around faceted Swarovski® crystals, skill and
modern European style, creating an international reach in more than 50 markets.
The personal dimension of that development features Lidia Weber, Director of Special
Projects at Oliver Weber Collection, whose role has expanded the brand into partnerships
and special gems ideas beyond its classic collections. In Venice, that international
perspective will converge one of the most visually striking capitals in Europe.
The new Dolce Vita Collection takes its impact immediately from its backdrop: glimmers
within the lagoon, Venetian buildings, Carnival, varied light and the dramatic value of a city
where water can change the look of a creating from one hour to the next. Inside Ca’
Sagredo, modern gems will be presented against frescoes and age-old rooms, creating a
intentional exchange between Austrian skill and Venetian heritage.
The Voice of the Evening
Music will add another dimension to the nature through Rezeda Kalimullina, featured as
Special Guest Vocalist. With 25 years of performance discover, Kalimullina performs within
soul, jazz and pop, uniting a commanding vocal reach with an international musical
experience.
Her creative role has featured guidance from several Grammy-nominated American singer,
pianist and songwriter Karen Edwards, whose role has featured appearances with Stevie
Wonder, Prince and Tony Bennett. Instead than using the performance as a ordinary pause
between dishes or awards, the hosts plan melody to become part of the progression of the
evening, guiding invitees through the varied rooms and nature of Ca’ Sagredo.
Venice Beyond the Flashbulbs
Perhaps this is where the Royal Gentlemen concept and Venice match each other well.
The Venice Film Festival is concerns exposure: premieres, photographers, remarkable reach
of international press and the tradition of the red carpet. Royal Gentlemen starts with a fresh
premise. What occurs after the photographers are no longer the focus of interest?
Thomas Misse and Marek Harmony have shaped their events around the notion that a
elegant setting counts, but the guests welcomed within that setting matter more. Anna
Stukkert’s Congress Awards brings tribute and an international commerce and philanthropic
network to that concept. Oliver Weber Collection brings style. Alisa Roever brings generosity.
Rezeda Kalimullina brings melody. And Ca’ Sagredo offers several centuries of Venetian
heritage around all of it.
For one evening, those worlds will converge on the Grand Canal while the Venice
International Film Festival is still unfolding only a brief way away.
It is a distinctive version of La Dolce Vita: not merely being seen in the ideal place, but
having opportunities to the ideal exchange after the photograph has been captured.
Event Details
Royal Gentlemen Gala Dinner & Congress Awards: La Dolce Vita
Date: Friday, 11 September 2026
Time: 6:30 pm
Venue: Ca’ Sagredo Hotel, Venice
Dress Code: Black Tie
Host: Royal Gentlemen Club
Royal Gentlemen Club: Thomas Misse & Marek Harmony
Congress Awards: Founded by Anna Stukkert
Designated Jewellery Partner: Oliver Weber Collection
Special Jewellery Presentation: Dolce Vita Collection
Special Guest Vocalist: Rezeda Kalimullina
One Life to Live with Style.
Press Contact: info@royalgentlemen.fr
Campo Santa Sofia, 4198/99 – Ca’ D’Oro
30121 Venezia VE, Italy
