Upcoming Films at the Venice Film Festival
The Venice Film Festival is gearing up to showcase some exciting new films. One of the most anticipated titles is Benny Safdie’s A24 film, The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. Other notable films include those by Chloe Zhao, Edward Berger, Alice Wincour, and Yorgos Lanthimos.
Netflix’s Return to the Festival
After a relatively quiet year in 2024, Netflix is set to make a comeback with Berger’s Macao-set film, The Ballad of a Small Player, starring Colin Farrell and Tilda Swinton. Focus Features has two major contenders: Zhao’s Hamnet, starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, and Lanthimos’ Bugonia, starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons.
Other Notable Films
Luca Guadagnino’s crime drama, After the Hunt, starring Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, and Chloe Sevigny, is set to make a welcome return for the Italian director. Jim Jarmusch’s comedy-drama, Father Mother Sister Brother, starring Cate Blanchett and Adam Driver, is also expected to make an appearance. Additionally, Karim Aïnouz’s English-language thriller, Rose Bush, starring Elle Fanning, Riley Keogh, and Pamela Anderson, is generating buzz.
Star-Studded Lineup
Romain Gavras’ English-language debut, Sacrifice, boasts an impressive cast, including Chris Evans, Anya Taylor-Joy, Salma Hayek Pinault, and Charli XCX. Wincour’s fashion world drama, Couture, starring Angelina Jolie, and Laszlo Nemes’ historical drama, Orphan, are also expected to hit the red carpet.
International Films
Park Chan-Wook’s comedy thriller, No Other Choice, is set to close out the festival, marking his return to Venice since his 2005 film, Lady Vengeance. Other international films, such as Ronan Day-Lewis’ family drama, Anemone, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, and Ilker Catak’s The Teacher’s Lounge, are also in the running.
Documentaries and Westerns
Lucrecia Martel’s documentary about indigenous activist Javier Chobars is generating quiet buzz, while Dara van Dusen’s Western, A Prayer for the Dying, starring John C. Reilly and Johnny Flynn, is also a possibility. With such a diverse and exciting lineup, the Venice Film Festival is shaping up to be an unforgettable event.
