Introduction to the International Film Festival 2025
The International Film Festival 2025 is set to begin, featuring 21 international films competing for the prestigious Golden Lion award. The festival will showcase a diverse range of films, including thrillers, dramas, and documentaries, with a star-studded lineup of actors and directors.
Hollywood Meets the Red Carpet in Venice
The festival will see the likes of Julia Roberts, George Clooney, and Cate Blanchett walking the red carpet. Roberts will be starring in Luca Guadagnino’s "After the Hunt", a #MeToo-inspired thriller, while Clooney will be appearing in Noah Baumbach’s "Jay Kelly", a film about a famous actor reflecting on his legacy. Cate Blanchett and Adam Driver will also be returning to Venice with Jim Jarmusch’s "Father Mother Sister", a character study of adult children and their distant parents.
New Releases and Anticipated Films
Other notable releases include "The Smashing Machine" starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, "No Other Choice" by Park Chan-Wook, and "Bugonia" by Yorgos Lanthimos. The festival will also feature Emma Stone in the English-language remake of the South Korean science fiction film "Save the Green Planet". Additionally, Jacob Elordi will be appearing in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein adaptation, alongside Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, and Christoph Waltz.
Netflix Returns to the Festival
After a successful outing last year, Netflix is back with a strong lineup, including del Toro’s "Frankenstein", Baumbach’s "Jay Kelly", and Kathryn Bigelow’s "House of Dynamite". Bigelow’s film follows a group of White House officials as they deal with an incoming nuclear rocket attack on the United States.
The Festival as a Launchpad for the Award Season
The Venice International Film Festival has become an unofficial kickoff for the award season, and this year’s lineup looks particularly promising. The festival will open with Paolo Sortino’s "La Grazia", starring Toni Servillo, while Mona Fastvold will be presenting her historic drama musical "The Testament of Ann Lee", starring Amanda Seyfried.
Documentaries and Politics
The festival will also feature several documentaries, including Werner Herzog’s "Ghost Elephants" and Laura Poitras’s latest film. Additionally, the festival will showcase several films that tackle contemporary geopolitics, including "The Voice of Hind Rajab" and "The Wizard of the Kremlin". The political edge will also extend beyond the screen, with hundreds of filmmakers and cultural figures signing an open letter calling for action on the Gaza war.
Contemporary Geopolitics on the Big Screen
The festival will feature several films that address current conflicts, including "The Voice of Hind Rajab", which tells the true story of a 6-year-old girl caught during the Israeli invasion of Gaza. Other films, such as "The Wizard of the Kremlin" and "Divine Comedy", will also tackle issues related to Russian politics and Iranian censorship. The festival will provide a platform for these important stories to be told and for filmmakers to express their perspectives on the current state of the world.
