Venice Film Festival Unveils Opening Films for Horizons and Horizons Extra

The 81st Venice Film Festival has announced its opening films for the Horizons and Horizons Extra sections, showcasing a diverse range of cinematic experiences.

“Nonostante,” the second feature film directed by Italian actor-director Valerio Mastandrea, will kick off the Horizons competition on August 28. The film, which translates to "despite," features Mastandrea as a hospitalized man whose peaceful existence is disrupted by the arrival of a vibrant and restless woman in the same ward.

Produced by HT Film, Damocle, Tenderstories, and RAI Cinema, “Nonostante” explores the complexities of human connection and contrasts peaceful existence with the disruptive energy of newfound vitality.

“September 5,” a gripping historical drama helmed by Tim Fehlbaum, will premiere in Horizons Extra on August 29. The film takes viewers back to the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, reconstructing the harrowing events of the Israeli hostage crisis.

Focusing on an American sports broadcasting team, the film portrays their rapid shift from sports reporting to live coverage of the unfolding tragedy. The film offers a poignant new perspective on the events, viewed by an estimated one billion people globally, and showcases the human cost of such a devastating act of terrorism.

“September 5,” produced by BerghausWöbke Filmproduktion, Projected Picture Works, Constantin Film, and ERF Edgar Reitz Filmproduktion, boasts an impressive cast, including Peter Sarsgaard and Sean Penn, who also serves as a producer.

The Horizons Extra section, an extension of the Horizons program, focuses on emerging trends in global cinema. Unlike the Horizons films, which are judged by a jury, Horizons Extra entries are evaluated by the festival's audience.

The 81st Venice Film Festival will take place from August 28 to September 7. The full lineup for the festival will be announced on July 23. With these two intriguing films setting the stage, the Venice Film Festival promises a captivating journey through the world of cinema.