Venice Film Festival Unveils Star-Studded Lineup
The 81st Venice Film Festival will be a star-studded affair, with a diverse selection of films set to premiere from August 28th to September 7th. From highly anticipated sequels to biographical dramas, the festival promises to be a cinematic feast.
Blockbuster Sequels and Star Power
The festival will see the return of some of Hollywoodâs biggest names. Joker: Folie à Deux, Todd Phillips' musical sequel to his 2019 Golden Lion-winning *Joker*, will premiere in Venice. Joaquin Phoenix reprises his role as Arthur Fleck alongside Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn.
Brad Pitt and George Clooney team up again in Wolfs, a Jon Watts-directed action drama about two lone wolf fixers. Broken Rage, the latest film from legendary Japanese director Takeshi Kitano, will also screen out of competition.
Angelina Jolie stars in Maria, a biopic directed by Pablo Larrain, which delves into the life of opera diva Maria Callas. The film boasts a star-studded cast including Kodi Smit-McPhee, Haluk Bilginer, Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, and Valeria Golino.
Competition Highlights
The festival's competition lineup is equally impressive. The Room Next Door, Pedro Almodóvar's first English-language film, features Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore. The Brutalist, starring Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, and Joe Alwyn, is Brady Corbet's hotly anticipated follow-up to *Vox Lux*.
The Order, Justin Kurzel's latest film, focuses on a group of bank-robbing white supremacists, featuring Nicholas Hoult, Jude Law, and Tye Sheridan. Queer, Luca Guadagnino's adaptation of the William S. Burroughs novel, stars Daniel Craig alongside Lesley Manville, Jason Schwartzman, and Henrique Zaga.
International Flavor and Diverse Storytelling
Babygirl, a mystery thriller directed by Halina Reijn, features Nicole Kidman as a CEO who has an affair with her intern, played by Harris Dickinson. The cast also includes Antonio Banderas, Sophie Wilde, and Jean Reno.
The festival will showcase a range of international cinema. Of Dogs and Men, Dani Rosenberg's new feature, explores the aftermath of the October 7 attacks in Israel through the eyes of a young woman searching for her lost dog. Pooja, Sir, Deepak Rauniyar's Indian-set crime drama, will also screen in the Horizons sidebar.
Documentaries and TV Series
The festival boasts a strong selection of documentaries. One to One: John & Yoko, directed by Kevin Macdonald and Sam Rice-Edwards, explores the musical partnership of John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989, directed by Göran Hugo Olsson, examines Swedish public broadcasters' coverage of the Middle East crisis. Riefenstahl, Andres Veiel's film about the controversial German filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, will also screen in the Classics section.
Venice will also present a selection of television series. Disclaimer, Alfonso Cuarón's Apple TV+ series, will make its debut alongside Joe Wright's M. Son of the Century.
Festival Opening and Closing
The festival will kick off with the world premiere of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Tim Burton's eagerly awaited sequel to his 1988 comedy-horror hit. The film reunites the original cast, including Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O'Hara.
LâOrto Americano, directed by Pupi Avanti, will close the festival.
Jury and Awards
Isabelle Huppert, renowned French actress, will preside over this year's Venice competition jury. The jury will award the prestigious Golden Lion, alongside other prizes, to the best film.
The Venice Film Festival promises to be a captivating celebration of cinema, showcasing a diverse array of films and talent from around the world.
