The Volpi Cup for Best Actor is the principal award given to actors at the Venice Film Festival and is named in honor of Count Giuseppe Volpi di Misurata, the founder of the Venice Film Festival. The name and number of prizes have been changed several times since their introduction, ranging from two to four awards per edition and sometimes acknowledging both leading and supporting performances.

The 8th Venice International Film Festival was held from 23 August to 15 September 1947. Screenwriter Vinicio Marinucci was appointed as the president of the jury. Formally, it still was not the Golden Lion to designate the highest honor of the event. The prize was known as the Grand International Prize of Venice, which was awarded to The Strike, directed by Karel Steklý.