The 81st Venice Film Festival is gearing up to be one of the most glamorous editions of the festival in recent years. Planned for August 28 – September 7, 2024, the festival will bring back all the glamour and excitement that was missing at the last festival because of Hollywood strikes. This year’s edition offers numerous Hollywood stars, popular movies, and new TV shows to watch.
Image source: THEGUARDIAN/Pablo Larraín
Hollywood Royalty Descends on the Lido
The popular Lido di Venezia will again welcome some of the most famous actors and singers in the world. The viewers will be able to see George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Cate Blanchett, Joaquin Phoenix and even Lady Gaga. This star-studded list gives credence to the festival’s longevity and its capacity to draw talent from all corners of the world.
Golden Lion Contenders: A Diverse and Compelling Selection
The competition for the prestigious Golden Lion award promises to be fierce, with several high-profile entries vying for the top prize:
“Joker: Folie à Deux” – Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix’s musical sequel with Lady Gaga to the director’s Golden Lion-winning 2019 film.
“Queer” – A film directed by Luca Guadagnino based on the novel by William S. Burroughs featuring Daniel Craig, Lesley Manville and Jason Schwartzman.
“The Brutalist” – drama by Brady Corbet with Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones
“The Order” – This film by Justin Kurzel is an upcoming thriller about white-supremacist bank robbers starring Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult.
“Maria” – A biopic of Maria Callas directed by Pablo Larraín where Angelina Jolie will star.
“The Room Next Door” – Pedro Almodóvar’s first English-speaking film with Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore.
“Babygirl” – Halina Reijn’s erotic mystery thriller starring Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, and Antonio Banderas.
Image source: THEGUARDIAN/ Yannis Drakoulidis
Out of Competition: Blockbusters and Auteur Cinema
The out-of-competition section boasts an equally impressive lineup:
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” – The long-awaited sequel to the 1988 film from Tim Burton with Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Jenna Ortega.
“Wolfs” – An action drama by Jon Watts with appearances of Brad Pitt and George Clooney who shot for the film in Venice.
“Broken Rage” – The newest film by the famous Japanese director Takeshi Kitano.
“L’orto Americana” – A film directed by Pupi Avati which has been chosen to be the final movie of the festival.
Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Documentaries: Music, Politics, and Climate Change
The non-fiction selection offers a diverse range of subjects:
“One to One: John & Yoko” – A film by Kevin Macdonald and Sam Rice-Edwards about the real life of John Lennon and Yoko Ono in New York of the early seventies.
“Pavements” – Documentary by Alex Ross Perry about the indie band Pavement.
“2073” – Asif Kapadia’s exploration of tyranny and environmental disaster.
“Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989” – Göran Hugo Olsson documentary on Middle East crisis in Swedish media.
Television Takes Center Stage
In a reflection of changing viewing habits and the blurring lines between cinema and television, the festival will premiere several high-profile series:
‘’Disclaimer’’ – A TV series by Alfonso Cuarón based on Renée Knight’s novel of the same name, Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline.
“M. Son of the Century” – A historical movie of Joe Wright.
“Families Like Ours” – A Danish dystopian series.
“Los Años Nuevos”- A Latin American limited series.
Festival director Alberto Barbera observed that the participation of such shows is a reflection on the expansion of cinematic narrative styles.
Horizons Extra and Jury
Horizons Extra category will include “September 5,” a drama by Tim Fehlbaum about the Munich Olympics of 1972 with Peter Sarsgaard and Ben Chaplin.
This year’s competition jury comprises renowned French actress Isabelle Huppert alongside directors James Gray and Andrew Haigh which will make the evaluation of entrants quite spirited and professional.
Conclusion: A Triumphant Return to Form
The 81st Venice Film Festival is a stunning return to the world of one of the largest and most significant film festivals. Thanks to the kinetic mix of Hollywood tentpoles, highbrow art-house fare, and storytelling across mediums, the festival reestablishes its identity as an international showcase of cinematic talent and a preview of the year’s hot-button releases.
That is why despite the constant changes in the film industry, the Venice Film Festival is capable of adapting while preserving the main goal – the discovery of the most outstanding films from different countries. Scheduled to take place from August 28 to September 7, 2024, the Lido will be the place to be for talent, creativity, and stars.
FAQs
Q1: Which film will close the festival?
The closing film is “L’orto Americana” by Italian director Pupi Avati.
Q2: Are there any notable directors presenting films?
Yes, several renowned directors have films in the lineup, including Pedro Almodóvar, Luca Guadagnino, Pablo Larraín, and Tim Burton (out of competition).
Q3: Are there any notable documentaries being screened?
Yes, documentaries include films about John Lennon and Yoko Ono, the band Pavement, and a look at authoritarianism and climate change.
Q4: Will there be any TV series premiering at the festival?
Yes, the festival will premiere several series including Alfonso Cuarón’s “Disclaimer” and Joe Wright’s “M. Son of the Century.”
Amit Gupta is a 2015 graduate of RTU in Rajasthan, India. After working over a decade as an additional writer at News article, he decided to start his own news publication. He mainly focuses on entertainment, Movies, Web series articles and editorials. He likes to listen to music and play cricket in his free time. Follow On Facebook.
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