Venice Film Festival 2025
Rome, Aug 25 (EFE).- By Gonzalo Sánchez
Venice has long been the cradle of global cinema, where films destined for box-office success and awards glory first meet the spotlight.
As the 82nd edition of the Venice Film Festival opens on Wednesday, the island of Lido will host some of the year’s most anticipated premieres, a mix of daring stories, stellar comebacks, and heavyweight talent.
Here are the highlights to watch for at this year’s show:
Jacob Elordi, “Guillermo del Toro”
The Mexican filmmaker, who won the Golden Lion in 2017 for The Shape of Water, returns with an adaptation of Frankenstein. Oscar Isaac plays the ambitious scientist, while Australian actor Jacob Elordi takes on the unusual role of the creature.
Julia Roberts’ Venetian debut
The ultimate Pretty Woman makes her long-awaited appearance at the festival, starring in “After the Hunt,” Luca Guadagnino’s drama inspired by the #MeToo movement.
Clooney faces himself
Another hotly anticipated entry is Noah Baumbach’s “Jay Kelly,” a portrait of a globally idolized actor, played, fittingly, by George Clooney, with Adam Sandler joining the cast.
Lanthimos returns
Fresh off his Golden Lion triumph with “Poor Things” (2023), Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos is back with his muse Emma Stone in “Bugonia,” a satire on conspiracy theories.
Big-name comebacks
The Golden Lion race will also feature Paolo Sorrentino with “La Grazia” Jim Jarmusch with the star-studded “Father Mother Sister Brother” (with Adam Driver and Cate Blanchett), and László Nemes with “Orphan,” which comes after seven years of “Sunset” and a decade of his Oscar-winning “Son of Saul.”
Dante Alighieri on screen
Can one film unite
Oscar Isaac, Gerard Butler, Al Pacino, John Malkovich, Jason Momoa, and even Martin Scorsese? Julian Schnabel’s “In the Hand of Dante” does just that, tracing the journey of the Divine Comedy poet. (Screening out of competition.)
Music-world cameos
Several films will feature surprise appearances by popular musicians. Bad Bunny appears in Barrio Triste by Stillz, Charli XCX in 100 Nights of Hero at Critics’ Week, and Dua Lipa may turn up in support of her partner Callum Turner, who stars in Rose of Nevada.
‘The Wizard of the Kremlin’
Timely politics arrive at Venice through Olivier Assayas’ adaptation of Giuliano Da Empoli’s novel about a shadowy strategist in Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin. The cast includes Paul Dano, Jude Law, and Alicia Vikander.
‘The Testament of Ann Lee’
Director Mona Fastvold brings to life the story of the 18th-century preacher and Shaker movement founder, with a screenplay co-written with Brady Corbet, who won Venice’s Silver Lion last year for The Brutalist.
Fashion and fights
Venice will also spotlight major documentaries, including Sofia Coppola’s Marc by Sofia, profiling designer Marc Jacobs. Another eye-catcher will be The Smashing Machine, a biopic with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson playing MMA fighter Mark Kerr.
Bonus: Series premieres
The festival also debuts series destined for streaming platforms. Among them is “The Monster,” Netflix’s retelling of the true story of a serial killer who terrorized Florence between 1968 and 1985. EFE
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