The 80th Biennale at the Venice Film Festival is set to showcase a diverse range of films, with the official selection for this year’s Golden Lion competition being announced on Tuesday. Alberto Barbera, the artistic director of the festival, along with Roberto Cicutto, the president of La Biennale di Venezia, will reveal the titles in a live-streamed ceremony on the festival’s website as well as on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
Renowned director Damien Chazelle, known for films like “La La Land” and “First Man,” will head the international jury for this year’s competition. Other esteemed directors, including Jane Campion, Martin McDonagh, and Laura Poitras, will also serve as judges for the main competition titles.
However, the ongoing SAG-AFTRA actors and WGA writers strike may significantly impact this year’s Venice line-up. With top U.S. talent unable to participate in promotional activities, the festival could look substantially different than initially planned. Barbera has already instructed his staff to prepare a backup plan in case American films are unable to participate due to the strikes.
For example, Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers,” a tennis drama starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist, was supposed to open the festival in an out-of-competition slot but was pulled last week due to MGM’s decision to postpone its release to April 2024. Instead, “Comandante,” an Italian period drama directed by Edoardo De Angelis and starring Pierfrancesco Favino, will open the festival on August 30. The closing film will be “Society of the Snow,” a survival thriller directed by J.A. Bayona and produced for Netflix.
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It is expected that several other major studio and streamer titles that were scheduled to screen at the festival may also choose to withdraw, following in MGM’s footsteps. Without A-listers to walk the red carpet, the marketing appeal of a Venice debut becomes limited, and producers may fear backlash if they proceed with a splashy premiere amidst a heated labor dispute.
However, individual films may still receive special dispensation from SAG-AFTRA to allow actors to engage in promotional work. The Toronto Film Festival has already announced its first group of 2023 titles, which include star-studded films like Craig Gillespie’s “Dumb Money” and Netflix movies like “NYAD” featuring Jodie Foster and Annette Bening.
Venice had hoped to outshine Cannes with its 80th edition, but the French festival set a high bar this year with its remarkable selection of films. These included blockbusters like “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” star-studded features like Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City,” and films from internationally acclaimed directors like Ken Loach, Wim Wenders, and Hirokazu Kore-eda.
Barbera has proven himself in recent years by curating a selection that included several award contenders and memorable scandals. However, attracting the same level of excitement without Hollywood’s A-list on the red carpet will undoubtedly be a challenge for the festival this year.
In conclusion, the 80th Biennale at the Venice Film Festival is set to showcase a diverse collection of films, but the ongoing strikes and absence of Hollywood’s A-list stars may impact the event. However, with its esteemed jury and reputation, the festival is still expected to bring a unique and exciting cinematic experience to audiences around the world.
