At the shimmering edges of the Venetian Lagoon, a grand congregation of cinematic dignitaries, film aficionados, and international media will assemble from August 28th to September 7th, 2024, to celebrate the illustrious 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival. As the sun-drenched waters lap against the elegant contours of the Lido, the festival will unravel a tapestry of new narrative weaves and pioneering visual cultures, reinforcing its position as the world’s oldest and most esteemed film festival. This time stars like Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Lady Gaga, and Goerge Clooney will illuminate the dark theatres with a lineup of vibrant motion pictures.
Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, the president of the Biennale, and Alberto Barbera, the artistic director, revealed the complete listings of titles across sectors early on Tuesday, July 23, on the YouTube stream. The Venice Film Festival will serve as a significant launchpad for Warner Bros., as Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will open the festival out of competition. Tim Burton’s upcoming fantasy comedy horror from a screenplay by the writing team of Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, alongside new cast members Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Jenna Ortega, and Willem Dafoe, will take the audience to the world of wonder, blending Burton’s signature quirky and surreal aesthetic with a gothic flair.
Todd Phillips juxtaposes the rebellious Lady Gaga with the phenomenal Joaquin Phoenix, following Joker’s 2019 triumph with the brilliant actor. The intention behind this augmentation to the narrative is to give Joker: Folie à Deux a profound and robust dimension. Queer, directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Daniel Craig, is set in Mexico City during the 1940s and tells the story of an American expatriate who experiences ostracism and develops a strong attraction for a younger guy. It must be attractive to see James Bond’s star challenging a different aspect of his acting power.
Pedro Almodovar, the Oscar-winning director, expects his first English-language feature, The Room Next Door, to premiere in competition at the 2024 Venice Film Festival. Tilda Swinton will portray Martha, a war correspondent, and her companion Ingrid, played by Julianne Moore, in the center of repressed resentment. Sony Pictures Classics, who currently distribute virtually all of Almodovar’s films, will distribute The Room Next Door in North America this autumn. Swinton previously told IndieWire about The Room Next Door: “It’s a beautiful thing, and I can’t say that much more about it, but I can tell you it’s a real Almodóvar film. What I can tell you is that it’s about mature friendship in a way.”
Following the life story of the world’s largest opera singer, Maria Callas, Pablo Larraín will attend the Venice Film Festival 2024 with Maria, performed by the beautiful Angelina Jolie. Angelina Jolie will be the latest addition to an esteemed roster of actresses who have portrayed some of the most intricate women in modern history in Larraín’s films. The 2016 film Jackie nominated Natalie Portman for an Academy Award for her portrayal of a mourning Jackie Kennedy, and Larson’s 2021 psychological drama, Spencer, nominated Kristen Stewart for her portrayal of Princess Diana.
Harmony Korine, Alfonso Cuarón, Thomas Vinterberg, Errol Morris, Lav Diaz, Takeshi Kitano, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, and others have contributed new work that is not in competition with series or features. Another film that will be released out of competition is Wolfs, directed by Jon Watts and featuring George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Alex Ross Perry’s Pavements, a documentary about the iconic indie rock band Pavement, is his first feature since 2018’s Her Smell. This film is particularly noteworthy in the Horizons section.
Isabelle Huppert will chair this year’s competition jury, which includes directors James Grey, Andrew Haigh, Agnieszka Holland, Kleber Mendonça Filho, Abderrahmane Sissako, Giuseppe Tornatore, Julia von Heinz, and Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi. The festival will take place from August 28 to September 7.
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