The 78th edition of the festival, which will run until September 11th, opens with “Madres Paralelas”, by Pedro Almodóvar, one of the films in the official competition.
The competition for the Golden Lion will also feature, among others, “America Latina“, by the brothers Damiano and Fabio D’Innocenzo, and “La caja“, second feature film by Venezuelan director Lorenzo Vigas, already awarded in Venice in 2015 with the Golden Lion.
The competition also features several literary adaptations, namely “The power of the dog“, by Jane Campion, based on a homonymous work by Thomas Savage, “Illusions perdues“, by Xavier Giannoli, adapted by Honoré de Balzac, and “The Lost Daughter“, the first feature film by actress Maggie Gyllenhal from one of Elena Ferrante’s tetralogy books.
Highlights include the inclusion of “Spencer“, by Pablo Larraín, with Kristen Stewart in the role of Princess Diana, and “É stata la mano di dio“, by Italian Paolo Sorrentino.
Out of competition will be premiered “Dune“, an adaptation of a science fiction classic by Denis Villeneuve – whose premiere was delayed several times because of the pandemic – and “The Last Duel“, by Ridley Scott, with script and interpretation by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, alongside actress Jodie Comer.
Also out of competition will be shown “Ennio por Giuseppe Tornatore”, a documentary about the Italian musician and conductor Ennio Morricone, directed by Giuseppe Tornatore.
The festival will honor actors Jamie Lee Curtis and Roberto Benigni with the career Golden Lion, and honor British director and producer Ridley Scott for his contribution to contemporary cinema.
The documentary “The nights still smell like gunpowder” by Mozambican director Inadelso Cossa, in a co-production between Mozambique, Germany, France, Norway, Netherlands, and Portugal, will be featured in Venice’s “Final Cut” program, for works in the final stages of completion.
