After the existential crisis of the pandemic, film festivals seem stronger than ever. With “CODA,” the first-ever Sundance premiere won Best Picture at the Academy Awards earlier this year. And Cannes, returning to its usual May dates, introduced the world to art house wonders like Palme d’Or winner “Triangle of Sadness” that may make a dent on next year’s Oscar race. Now, it’s time for awards season to kick into high gear with the one-two-three punch of Venice, Telluride, and TIFF. As per usual, Venice is first, with its 79th gathering kicking off August 31. And now its lineup has been revealed.
It was previously announced that Noah Baumbach’s Don DeLillo adaptation “White Noise” would be the opening night film, the first time a Netflix movie has had that honor. It will screen in competition and contest for the Golden Lion. The film follows a renowned professor of Hitler studies at a U.S. liberal arts college (Adam Driver) who, with his fourth wife (Greta Gerwig), faces an “airborne toxic event” hanging over his town that threatens everyone’s lives.
Baumbach’s previous film “Marriage Story” was also a Venice debut, and the festival has been a particularly strong launchpad for Oscar contenders: that film won Best Supporting Actress for Laura Dern. The Golden Lion winner two years ago, “Nomadland,” ended up winning Best Picture and Best Director. The year before that, Golden Lion Winner “Joker” ended up winning Best Actor at the Oscars for Joaquin Phoenix. Just last year, blockbuster “Dune” debuted at the festival before going on to win six Oscars.
Netflix has had a particularly strong track record at Venice in recent years, with “Roma” winning the Golden Lion in 2018 before taking multiple statuettes, and “The Power of the Dog” debuting at the festival last year before ultimately winning Best Director for Jane Campion in March.
This year Netflix’s Andrew Dominik reverie on Marilyn Monroe, “Blonde,” was all but guaranteed to be part of the Venice lineup, as well as the streamer’s first collaboration with Alejandro González Iñárritu, “Bardo.” Luca Guadagnino’s “Bones and All,” Todd Field’s “Tar,” Olivia Wilde’s “Don’t Worry Darling,” Martin McDonagh’s “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Sebastian Lelio’s “The Wonder,” Joanna Hogg’s “The Eternal Daughter,” Florian Zeller’s “The Son,” and Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale” were all on many observers’ lists as highly likely to debut at the festival — if they’re ready in time.
This year’s Venice jury is chaired by Julianne Moore. She’ll be joined by Mariano Cohn, Leonardo di Costanzo, Audrey Diwan, Leila Hatami, Kazuo Ishiguro, and Rodrigo Sorogoyen.
The 2022 Venice Film Festival runs August 31 to September 10. Check out the official lineup for the festival below.
Opening Night
“White Noise,” Noah Baumbach (in competition)
Competition/Venezia 78
Out of Competition (Fiction)
Out of Competition (Non Fiction)
Out of Competition (Special Screenings)
Out of Competition (Short Films)
Horizons/Orizzonti
Horizons/Orizzonti Extra
Source: Read Full Article
