The 81st Venice Film Festival is just around the corner, and the buzz in the film community is electric. This year's selection promises an eclectic mix of films that reflect the diverse voices and stories shaping contemporary cinema. Set to run from August 28th to September 7th, the world's oldest film festival once again transforms the Lido into a cinephile's paradise.
Celebrating Cinematic Excellence
As always, the Venice Film Festival, known officially as the Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, kicks off with a bang. This year's opening night film is Tim Burton's highly anticipated “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” setting the tone for a festival filled with creativity and flair.
The Competition Line-Up
The heart of the festival lies in its competition films, where renowned directors vie for the prestigious Golden Lion. Among the most talked-about entries is Luca Guadagnino's “Queer,” starring Daniel Craig, promising a compelling exploration of identity and love. Justin Kurzel's “The Order,” set in the Pacific Northwest, is a surprise entry that has already stirred significant anticipation.
Pedro Almodóvar returns to Venice with “The Room Next Door,” a film that is sure to captivate audiences with its emotional depth and signature style. Other notable competition films include “Maria” by Pablo Larrain, featuring Angelina Jolie, and “Babygirl” directed by Halina Reijn and starring Nicole Kidman.
COMPETITION (VENEZIA 81):
The Room Next Door – dir. Pedro Almodovar
Campo di Battaglia – dir. Gianni Amelio
Their Children After Them (Leurs Enfants Après Eux) – dirs. Ludovic Boukherma & Zoran Boukherma
The Brutalist – dir. Brady Corbet
The Quiet Son – dirs. Delphine Coulin & Muriel Coulin
Vermiglio – dir. Maura Delpero
Sicilian Letters (Iddu) – dirs. Fabio Grassadonia & Antonio Piazza
Queer – dir. Luca Guadagnino
Love (Kjærlighet) – dir. Dag Johan Haugerud
April – dir. Dea Kulumbegashvili
The Order – dir. Justin Kurzel
Maria – dir. Pablo Larrain
Trois Amies – dir. Emmanuel Mouret
Kill the Jockey – dir. Luis Ortega
Joker: Folie à Deux – dir. Todd Phillips
Babygirl – dir. Halina Reijn
I'm Still Here – dir. Walter Salles
Diva Futura – dir. Giulia Louise Steigerwalt
Harvest – dir. Athina Rachel Tsangari
Youth – Homecoming – dir. Wang Bing
Stranger Eyes – dir. Yeo Siew Hua
Out of Competition Highlights
The out-of-competition section is equally exciting, offering a mix of fiction and non-fiction films that push the boundaries of storytelling. Harmony Korine's “Baby Invasion” and Takeshi Kitano's “Broken Rage” are among the highlights, promising unique and thought-provoking experiences.
In the non-fiction category, “One to One: John & Yoko” by Kevin Macdonald & Sam Rice-Edwards delves into the iconic couple's life, while Errol Morris's “Separated” explores the complexities of human relationships.
OUT OF COMPETITION (FICTION):
L'Orto Americano – dir. Pupi Avati
Il Tempo che ci Vuole – dir. Francesca Comencini
Phantosmia – dir. Lav Diaz
Maldoror – dir. Fabrice du Welz
Broken Rage – dir. Takeshi Kitano
Baby Invasion – dir. Harmony Korine
Cloud – dir. Kurosawa Kiyoshi
Finalement – dir. Claude Lelouch
Se Posso Permettermi Capitolo II – dir. Marco Bellocchio
Allégorie Citadine – dirs: Alice Rohrwacher & JR
Wolfs – dir. Jon Watts
OUT OF COMPETITION (NON-FICTION):
Why War – dir. Amos Gitai
2073 – dir. Asif Kapadia
Bestiari, Erbari, Lapidari – dirs. Massimo D'Anolfi & Martina Perenti
Apocalypse in the Tropics – dir. Petra Costa
One to One: John & Yoko – dir. Kevin Macdonald & Sam Rice-Edwards
Separated – dir. Errol Morris
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989 – dir. Goran Hugo Olsson
Russians at War – dir. Anastasia Trofimova
TWST/Things We Said Today – dir. Andrei Ujica
Songs of Slow Burning Earth – dir. Olha Zhurba
Riefenstahl – dir. Andres Veiel
OUT OF COMPETITION (SPECIAL):
Leopardi. Il Poeta Dell'Infinito – dir. Sergio Rubini
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – dir. Peter Weir
Beauty is not a Sin – dir. Nicolas Winding Refn
Horizons and Horizons Extra
The Horizons section continues to be a platform for innovative and daring works. This year features Valerio Mastandrea's “Nonostante” and Alexandros Avranas's “Quiet Life,” both expected to offer fresh perspectives and storytelling techniques. The Horizons Extra section includes “September 5” by Tim Fehlbaum and “Le Mohican” by Frederic Farrucci, among others.
HORIZONS (ORIZZONTI):
Nonostante – dir. Valerio Mastandrea
Quiet Life – dir. Alexandros Avranas
Mon Inséparable – dir. Anne-Sophie Bailly
Aïcha – dir. Mehdi Barsaoui
Happy Holidays – dir. Scandar Copti
Familia – dir. Francesco Costabile
One of Those Days When Hemme Dies – dir. Murat Firatoglu
Familiar Touch – dir. Sarah Friedland
Marco – dirs. Jon Garano & Aitor Arregi
Carissa – dirs. Jason Jacobs & Devon Delmar
Wishing on a Star – dir. Peter Kerekes
Mistress Dispeller – dir. Elizabeth Lo
The New Year that Never Came – dir. Bogdan Muresanu
Pooja, Sir – dir. Deepak Rauniyar
Of Dogs and Men – dir. Dani Rosenberg
Pavements – dir. Alex Ross Perry
Happyend – dir. Neo Sora
L'Attachement – dir. Carine Tardieu
Diciannove – dir. Giovanni Tortorici
HORIZONS EXTRA (ORIZZONTI EXTRA):
September 5 – dir. Tim Fehlbaum
Vittoria – dirs. Alessandro Cassigoli & Casey Kauffman
Le Mohican – dir. Frederic Farrucci
Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo – dir. Khaled Mansour
La Storia del Frank e della Nina – dir. Paola Randi
The Witness – dir. Nader Saeivar
After Party – dir. Vojtech Strakaty
King Ivory – dir. John Swab
Edge of Night – dir. Turker Suer
Looking Forward
Festival Director Alberto Barbera encapsulates the essence of this year's selection: “Cinema has always been a formidable opportunity to reflect on and mirror the pertinent themes of humanity.” Indeed, the films chosen for the 81st Venice Film Festival promise to explore the pressing issues of our time, from personal identity crises to global conflicts, offering viewers a chance for in-depth analysis and reflection.
As we gear up for another exciting edition of the Venice Film Festival, the anticipation is palpable. Whether you're a seasoned festival-goer or a newcomer, this year's lineup offers something for everyone. Mark your calendars and prepare to be dazzled by the magic of cinema on the Lido.
