The Venice International Film Festival, organised by the Biennale di Venezia, returns this year for its 83rd edition. One of the most anticipated events on the Italian and international cinema calendar will run from September 2 to 12, once again directed by Alberto Barbera as artistic director, while the Biennale is presided over by Pietrangelo Buttafuoco. Eleven days packed with events, including films in competition, world premieres, out-of-competition titles, Orizzonti and the other sections of the official selection.
Among the many acclaimed stars presiding over the festival is George Clooney: the actor-director, accompanied by his wife, Amal Clooney, will receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement during the opening ceremony. Among the other guest announcements, Danny Boyle will present the premiere of his new film Ink. A documentary on the unexpected reunion tour of brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher, founders of Oasis, will have its world premiere on August 5, featuring never-before-seen footage and interviews with the two brothers after more than 25 years.
Other internationally acclaimed artists will light up the red carpet: Robert Pattinson, Alicia Vikander, sisters Kate and Rooney Mara, Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem, Susan Sarandon, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dakota Johnson and Louis Garrel. On the Italian side, Nanni Moretti will present a new film in competition, alongside Valeria Golino, Alessandro Borghi and Adriano Giannini. This all points to an edition rich in big names and internationally significant productions, striking a balance between auteur cinema and moments of pure spectacle.
Opening the festival is actress Greta Scarano, who kicked things off with the traditional lagoon swim, walking barefoot along the shoreline while holding a watermelon-shaped fan echoing the colours of the Palestinian flag (green, white, red and black) — a symbol often “censored” on social media in support of Palestine. A signatory of the ‘Venice4Palestine’ appeal, Scarano expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and stressed the need to address the war in Gaza during the festival as well. Alongside Italian-French actor Nicolas Maupas, she will co-host the festival’s opening and closing ceremonies.
Photo Credits: Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash
