Venice Film Festival
Stars and highlights of the 80th edition
Emma Stone stars in surrealist drama Poor Things.
© Atsushi Nishijima/Searchlight Pictures/20th Century Studios
This year’s film festival in Venice has been overshadowed by the actors’ strike. The program is still impressive.
At the International Film Festival of Superstars like Harry Styles (29), Florence Pugh (27) and Timothée Chalamet (27) were represented in Venice last year. Brendan Fraser (54) made an impressive comeback with “The Whale” and was even awarded the Oscar for “Best Actor” a few months later.
But in 2023, due to the strike by the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA, far fewer prominent actors from US productions are expected at the Lido. The tennis romance “Challengers” starring Zendaya (26) was originally supposed to open the renowned festival on August 30th. But the film by “Call Me by Your Name” director Luca Guadagnino (52) has been postponed to next year and is therefore unfortunately also missing in Venice.
Interesting facts about the competition
The program of the film festival is still impressive. A total of 23 titles compete for the “Golden Lion”, the main prize at the film festival. This includes “Priscilla” by “Lost in Translation” filmmaker Sofia Coppola (52). After “Elvis” from last year, the director tells another story about the “King of Rock and Roll” Elvis Presley (1935-1977) – but this time from the perspective of his wife Priscilla Presley (78), who is also expecting at the Lido becomes.
Bradley Cooper (48) brings his latest work “Maestro” to the Lido as the main actor and director – and will not attend the festival in solidarity with the striking actors. In “The Killer” director David Fincher (“Gone Girl”, 61) stages Michael Fassbender (46) as a contract killer who has to defend himself against his own clients.
Director Michael Mann (80) is represented with “Ferrari” in Venice. The biopic tells the story of Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari (1898-1988). Adam Driver (39) plays the title character. “The Favorite” director Yorgos Lanthimos (50) brings his latest work “Poor Things” with Emma Stone (34) in the leading role to the Lido. Mark Ruffalo (55) and Willem Dafoe (68) can be seen in other roles.
The controversial French filmmaker Luc Besson (64) is showing his new action film “Dogman” in Venice, while the Japanese director and Oscar winner Ryusuke Hamaguchi (44) is his first work since “Drive My Car” (2021) with the drama “Evil Does Not Exist”. ) presents. With “The Theory of Everything”, a German film by director Timm Kröger is also represented in the competition for the “Golden Lion” this year.
Well-known out of competition
Out of competition, two controversial filmmakers have been invited to the Lido this year: Legendary director Woody Allen (87), who has denied allegations of abuse by his adoptive daughter Dylan Farrow (38), is showing his latest film “Coup de chance” in Venice French language originated. Roman Polanski (90), who was convicted of “extramarital sex with a minor” in the United States, shows “The Palace” with Oliver Masucci (54), Fanny Ardant (74) and John Cleese (83) in the leading roles.
The jury
The jury president of this year’s Venice Film Festival is “La La Land” and “Babylon” maker Damien Chazelle (38). He is supported by Oscar winner Jane Campion (“The Power of the Dog”, 69) and the French filmmaker Mia Hansen-Løve (42).