The 10th annual Venice International Film Festival was held from 11 August to 1 September 1949. The Venice Film Festival came back permanently to the Palazzo del Cinema on the Venice Lido.
The award for the Best Film in competition was renamed to Golden Lion of Saint Mark (an allusion to the Lion of Saint Mark, which is one of the best known symbols of the ancient Republic of Venice). Manon, directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot was awarded with the Golden Lion.