Hollywood’s elite are set to grace the Venice Film Festival this week, marking a grand return to form after last year’s subdued edition due to strikes. The festival, running from August 28 through September 7, is one of the most glamorous launch pads for awards season, alongside Cannes. The films that triumph here are often the ones that dominate the conversation until the Oscars in March.
This year, the lineup boasts both blockbuster Hollywood titles, such as “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” “Horizon: An American Saga—Chapter 2,” and “Wolfs,” as well as an impressive array of films from internationally acclaimed auteurs. Attendees are encouraged to keep an open mind and explore as much as possible. Notably, there are ten films generating significant excitement.
“Joker: Folie à Deux,” set to screen on September 4, sees a promising return to Venice. Despite the first film’s $1 billion earnings and 11 Oscar nominations, the sequel is described by Venice chief Alberto Barbera as a dystopian musical, and one of the most daring films in recent American cinema. It confirms Todd Phillips as a leading creative director, and will be in theaters on October 4.
On August 29, Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín will present “Maria,” a biographical film on the opera singer Maria Callas, starring Angelina Jolie. Known for his portrayals of tragic figures like Jackie Kennedy, Larraín brings Callas’ storied life and career back to the screen.
Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer” will be showcased on September 3. Starring Daniel Craig, it’s an adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ novel about an American expat in Mexico City, dealing with obsession and a quest for drugs. Barbera has praised Craig’s performance as career-defining.
On September 2, Pedro Almodóvar’s English-language debut “The Room Next Door” will feature Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton. With a storyline about an estranged mother and daughter, it delves into themes like war, death, friendship, and sexual pleasure, while also portraying the serene awakening to birds in New England.
August 30 will see the premiere of “Babygirl” by Dutch filmmaker Halina Reijn. An erotic thriller starring Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson, it explores the affair between a powerful CEO and a younger intern, with Antonio Banderas also in the cast. A24 has planned a December release.
Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist” screens on September 1. A 3 1/2-hour drama following architect László Toth and his wife as they navigate post-World War II America, it features Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, and Guy Pearce. The film’s complex narrative is seeking distribution in the U.S.
Wang Bing’s “Youth (Homecoming),” part of the main competition, will show on September 6. The documentary, the concluding part of a trilogy, follows migrant workers in China’s textile factories over five years. It’s one of the innovative nonfiction offerings seeking distribution.
“April,” debuting on September 5, is Georgian filmmaker Dea Kulumbegashvili’s second film. It tells the story of an OB-GYN who faces rumors and an investigation after a newborn dies under her care. This promising entry is set to also appear at TIFF and the New York Film Festival.
“The Order,” featuring Jude Law as both producer and star, is a crime thriller set in the 1980s, to be shown on August 31. It centers around a white supremacist group suspected of crimes in the Pacific Northwest. Nicholas Hoult co-stars, and the film will hit theaters in December.
Athina Rachel Tsangari’s medieval adaptation “Harvest” will present on September 3. Featuring Caleb Landry Jones, it explores a village using newcomers as scapegoats for economic woes and is seeking U.S. distribution plans despite securing European rights with Mubi.
Additionally, the upcoming AppleTV+ series “Disclaimer” by Alfonso Cuarón will screen on August 29. Starring Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline, it involves a journalist who finds herself a character in a novel revealing her dark secret, set for release on October 11.
These films and series are set to captivate audiences and set the tone for the upcoming awards season, showcasing the creativity and storytelling prowess of filmmakers from around the globe.
