Today, September 1st 2023 kicks off the Venice Biennale's 80th year with a promising line-up of projects, some trepidation about which Hollywood stars wouldn't make it because of the industry strikes, and the presence and invitation of three controversial male film-makers.
Some of industries finest directors including Sophia Coppola and Wes Anderson, who is fresh out of the Cannes Festival with his newly released film, Asteroid City, will be attending. However, the missing presence of the SAG-AFTRA and WGA artists has been a concern. Zendaya, who was set to appear at Venice's Film Festival's 80th, is one of the artists who in a show of allegiance, will not be attending. George Clooney and his wife Amal who have a home in Lake Como and are friends of festival organizers, did not disappoint their hosts and have already arrived, having enjoyed dinner at the Aman Venice the night before.
Among the glittery atmosphere for which the Venice Film Festival is known, there are also some stains of controversy surrounding the invitation and presence of three male filmmakers, accused of various types of sexual misconduct and abuse of power, Woody Allan, Roman Polanski, and Luc Besson. While the accused filmmakers have been shunned by most of the industry and some exiled from their homes, these male filmmakers have somehow still found a way to this iconic and very public event. As a result, the event has prepared for potential picketing and protesters.
The Venice Film Festival 80 Line-up is make of six categories, VENEZIA 80 COMPETITON, OUT OF COMPETITION, with sub-categories Fiction, Non-Fiction, Series, Special Screening, then HORIZONS EXTRA, HORIZONS, and VENICE CLASSICS.
留言