Venice, Italy – The 81st Venice Film Festival lineup was revealed at the Library of the Historical Archive of La Biennale. La Biennale President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco and Venice Film Festival Artistic Director Alberto Barbera announced the highly anticipated list of titles, marking a return to the star-studded affair after last year’s SAG-AFTRA strike affected the festival.
Known as one of the oldest film festivals in the world, Venice serves as a crucial platform for launching films into awards season and attracting media attention. This year’s lineup is rumored to include highly anticipated movies such as Todd Phillips’ “Joker: Folie à Deux” starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, as well as Pablo Larrain’s Maria Callas biopic “Maria” featuring Angelina Jolie.
Other notable films speculated to make an appearance include Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer” starring Daniel Craig, George Clooney and Brad Pitt’s thriller “Wolfs,” and Pedro Almodovar’s first English-language feature “The Room Next Door” with Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton. Additionally, there has been talk of Johnny Depp-directed “Modi,” potentially starring Al Pacino.
Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” has already been confirmed for the festival, set to open the proceedings out of competition on August 28. The festival will also feature Lifetime Achievement Awards for Peter Weir and Sigourney Weaver, with Isabelle Huppert serving as the jury president. The festival is scheduled to run from August 28 to September 7.
The lineup for the competition includes a diverse array of films, such as Pedro Almodovar’s “The Room Next Door,” Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist,” and Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer.” There are also multiple out-of-competition films spanning across fiction, non-fiction, special screenings, and series categories.
In the Horizons Extra section, films like “September 5,” “Vittoria,” and “The Witness” are set to showcase emerging talent and innovative storytelling. The Venice Classics segment will feature documentaries about cinema legends like Miyazaki and Jean-Pierre Léaud, providing a deeper look into the history and evolution of filmmaking.
With a lineup that promises to captivate audiences and celebrate the art of cinema, the 81st Venice Film Festival is shaping up to be a must-see event for film enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. Stay tuned for more updates on the films and events scheduled to take place at this prestigious festival in Venice, Italy.