The Venice Film Festival is set to host various notable films, despite the ongoing strike from the SAG-AFTRA actors and WGA writers. The lineup for the 2023 Biennale includes new pieces from cinema giants like Bradley Cooper, Sofia Coppola, Yorgos Lanthimos, Michael Mann, and Ava DuVernay.
Kicking off the festival on August 30 is “Comandante,” an Italian period drama directed by Edoardo De Angelis and featuring Pierfrancesco Favino, known for his role in “The Traitor.” The festival’s closing act on September 9 will be “Society of the Snow” from director J.A. Bayona.
“Maestro,” Bradley Cooper’s second directorial venture, is set to be showcased, though it’s uncertain whether Cooper himself will be in attendance. Ava DuVernay’s newest creation, “Origin,” is also competing.
“La La Land” director Damien Chazelle will preside over this year’s international jury, with notable directors like Jane Campion, Martin McDonagh, and Laura Poitras on the panel.
Although the festival’s roster teems with high-profile actors and renowned directors, the question of which talents will appear, given the ongoing strike, remains uncertain.
Alberto Barbera, the festival director, addressed this during his opening speech, stating that if the strike persists, some film premieres may have to proceed without their cast on the red carpet. However, he clarified that producers could apply for SAG-AFTRA waivers to allow their stars to attend without violating strike regulations. Moreover, he added that the strike would likely not affect independent and foreign films and could bring their talent. Barbera reassured the audience that the red carpet “will not be empty.”
Here’s the full competition lineup for the 2023 Venice International Film Festival:
– “Comandante,” Edoardo de Angelis (Opening Night Film)
– “Adagio,” Stefano Sollima
– “La Bête,” Bertrand Bonello
– “DogMan,” Luc Besson
– “El Conde,” Pablo Larrain
– “Enea,” Pietro Castellitto
– “Evil Does Not Exist,” Ryusuke Hamaguchi
– “Ferrari,” Michael Mann
– “Finalmente L’Alba,” Saverio Costanzo
– “The Green Border,” Agnieszka Holland
– “Holly,” Fien Troch
– “Hors-Saison,” Stéphane Brizé
– “Io Capitano,” Matteo Garrone
– “The Killer,” David Fincher
– “Lubo,” Giorgio Diritti
– “Maestro,” Bradley Cooper
– “Memory,” Michel Franco
– “Origin,” Ava DuVernay
– “Poor Things,” Yorgos Lanthimos
– “Priscilla,” Sofia Coppola
– “The Promised Land,” Nikolaj Arcel
– “Die Theorie Von Allem,” Timm Kroger
– “Woman Of,” Malgorzata Szumowska, Michal Englert
Despite the ongoing Hollywood strike, the Venice Film Festival promises a diverse, star-studded lineup of films. The event will showcase various works from some of the industry’s leading directors and actors, reminding us that cinema thrives despite adversities. The Festival will run from August 30 to September 9, 2023, a testament to the enduring spirit of the global film industry.
