The 54th annual Venice International Film Festival was held between 27 August to 6 September 1997.

[1][2] New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion was the Jury President of the Main Competition.

The opening film was Woody Allen's Deconstructing Harry, while the closing film was a restored version of 1912 silent film Richard III, accompanied live by Vittorio Gassman serving as narrator and Ennio Morricone conducing the Arturo Toscanini Orchestra.

[3] Takeshi Kitano's Hana-bi was the Golden Lion winner.

The following people comprised the 1997 jury:[3][4] The following films were selected to be screened:[3][5] The following feature films were selected to be screened as in competition for this section:[6]