The Venice Film Festival has unveiled the official lineup for its 83rd edition, bringing together a strong slate of films from acclaimed international filmmakers, including Martin McDonagh, Danny Boyle, Florian Zeller, Werner Herzog, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Lee Chang-dong and Nanni Moretti, writes Variety.
Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera announced the selection on Tuesday, describing cinema as a powerful medium for understanding contemporary society.
He also praised Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, saying its success demonstrates that cinema continues to thrive despite concerns over the industry’s future.
Opening this year’s competition is Danny Boyle’s Ink, a drama starring Guy Pearce as media tycoon Rupert Murdoch and Jack O’Connell as The Sun editor Larry Lamb.
Martin McDonagh returns to Venice with Wild Horse Nine, while Florian Zeller’s psychological thriller Bunker stars Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz.
Werner Herzog will compete with Bucking Fastard, featuring sisters Rooney and Kate Mara in their first on-screen collaboration.
Among the most anticipated competition titles are Lance Oppenheim’s Primetime, starring Robert Pattinson, Casey Affleck’s gothic mystery Company, Hirokazu Kore-eda’s live-action manga adaptation Look Back, and Lee Chang-dong’s Netflix drama Possible Love, marking the Korean filmmaker’s first feature since Burning in 2018.
The out-of-competition programme features several high-profile projects, including the Oasis reunion documentary Don’t Look Back in Anger, directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace, Russell Crowe’s documentary What Love Builds, Alex Gibney’s documentary Musk, and Paul Schrader’s latest drama The Basics of Philosophy.
The festival will also showcase works by acclaimed filmmakers Kornél Mundruczó, Wim Wenders, Takashi Miike, Luca Guadagnino, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Laura Poitras across its special screenings, documentary and short film sections.
Only one female filmmaker, Danish-Egyptian director May el-Toukhy, will compete for the Golden Lion this year with her post-World War II drama Woman, Unknown.
Meanwhile, veteran Italian director Nanni Moretti returns to Venice with It Will Happen Tonight, while Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda and South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong strengthen the festival’s Asian representation.
Oscar-nominated actor and filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal will serve as jury president.
She will be joined by Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To, Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, Afghan filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat, French director Xavier Giannoli, composer Daniel Blumberg and film scholar Francesco Casetti.
George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn will receive the festival’s Lifetime Achievement Awards.
The 83rd Venice Film Festival will run from Sept. 2 to Sept. 12, with 20 films competing for the prestigious Golden Lion.
