Venice Film Festival 2016 (La Biennale)
The 31st of August brought about the beginning of the 73rd Venice International Film Festival, La Biennale; which meant 11 days of screenings, premieres, photocalls, red carpets, awards and general appreciation for the craft of filmmaking. We breakdown the major happenings at one of the major stops on the seemingly never-ending film-festival and award season railway.
Jury
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This year’s principal jury, responsible for selecting the main award winners at the end of the festival, was presided over by British director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Skyfall) and consisted of an eclectic group of filmmakers which included; Venezuelan director and last year’s “Golden Lion” winner Lorenzo Vigas, American musician and director Laurie Anderson, British actress Gemma Arterton, Italian writer Giancarlo De Cataldo, German actress Nina Hoss, American documentarian Joshua Oppenheimer, Italian actress Chiara Mastroianni and Chinese actress/director Wei Zhao.
Premieres & Screenings
Wednesday the 31st
La La Land
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After the success of the superb ‘Whiplash’ in early 2015, writer/director Damien Chazelle got the chance to open the festival with the the world premiere of his 3rd Jazz-themed film ‘La La Land’. A classic Hollywood romantic musical dramedy, starring a singing & dancing Ryan Gosling as a jazz musician who falls for Emma Stone’s aspiring young actress in L.A.
In attendance were director Chazelle and star Emma Stone, flanked by the film’s producers for a unanimously well-received premiere, ‘La La Land’ is out on the 13th of January 2017 in the UK, and the 16th of December 2016 in the US.
La La Land @ Venice 2016 press conferences (moviemaniacsDE)
Thursday the 1st
The Light Between Oceans
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The first full day of screenings at La Biennale threw up some interesting premieres, including a showing of Derek Cianfrance’s (Blue Valentine) period drama ‘The Light Between Oceans’; about a grieving lighthouse keeper couple who raise a recused baby as as their own, only to be confronted by the heart-wrenching truth about their infant daughter.
In attendance were director Cianfrance alongside stars Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Jack Thompson, ‘The Light Between Oceans’ is out in UK cinemas on the 4th of November and is out now in the US.
The Light Between Oceans @ Venice 2016 highlights (courtesy of la Biennale on YouTube)
Arrival
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One of the most anticipated premieres this year was director Denis Villeneuve’s first foray into Sci-fi ‘Arrival’; starring Amy Adams as a linguist recruited by US authorities to determine the threat posed by the arrival of extra terrestrials on Earth, after alien spacecrafts begin to land all over the planet.
Villeneuve was conspicuous by his absence, presumably unable to pry himself away from the daunting task of crafting a ‘Blade Runner’ sequel; but the producers were on hand along with stars Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner, ‘Arrival’ is out on the 11th of November in both the UK and US.
Arrival @ Venice 2016 highlights (courtesy of la Biennale on YouTube)
São Jorge
Thursday also saw the premiere of Portuguese drama ‘São Jorge’, set during a time of economic strife in Portugal where a struggling boxer is forced into the underworld of debt-collection to keep his family together. Writer/director Marco Martins was in attendance with his cast for a film with no current UK release date, out on the 3rd of November in Portugal.
São Jorge @ Venice 2016 highlights (courtesy of la Biennale on YouTube)
Friday the 2nd
Nocturnal Animals
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Fashion powerhouse Tom Ford returned to filmmaking and Venice with his second directorial outing ‘Nocturnal Animals’ on Friday; an ensemble dramatic art-world thriller adapted from Austin Wright’s novel “Tony & Susan”, about a happily divorced woman whose new life is thrown into turmoil when she’s pulled in by her ex-husband’s symbolic novel of violent revenge.
In attendance were the film’s stars Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, along with director Ford, ‘Nocturnal Animals’ is out on the 4th of November in the UK and the 9th of December in the US.
Nocturnal Animals @ Venice 2016 highlights (courtesy of la Biennale on YouTube)
El Cristo Ciego (The Blind Christ)
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Chile’s entrant for award contention this year also made its debut on Friday, in the form of Christopher Murray’s ‘El Cristo Ciego’; a contemporary study on belief and the forgotten of society, in a drama about a young Chilean villager and his voyage of healing across the desert… and did we mention he may also be the resurrected Christ.
Writer/director Christopher Murray brought star Michael Silva along to showcase the film for distribution, and as such there are no current release dates anywhere.
El Cristo Ciego @ Venice 2016 highlights (courtesy of la Biennale on YouTube)
Saturday the 3rd
Brimstone
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Dutch writer/director Martin Koolhoven kicked off Saturday’s proceedings with his first full English language feature ‘Brimstone’; a thriller set in the old American west as starring Dakota Fanning as a young woman, who along with her town, struggles to resist the will of the fearsome and zealous new reverend.
Although much of the recognisable cast was absent, Koolhoven was accompanied by stars Dakota Fanning and Emilia Jones, ‘Brimstone’ has no release date yet.
Brimstone @ Venice 2016 highlights (courtesy of la Biennale on YouTube)
Frantz
Image Source: AFP
François Ozon brought his Franco-German drama ‘Frantz’ to the Lido on Saturday; set after the destruction of World War I, where a grieving young German lady develops a relationship with a young Frenchman, who mysteriously lays flowers at the foot of her dead fiancé’s grave. Ozon was in attendance along with his leads Pierre Niney and Paula Beer, ‘Frantz’ has no UK or US release date yet, out now in France.
Frantz @ Venice 2016 highlights (courtesy of la Biennale on YouTube)
The Bleeder
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Saturday also saw the premiere of Canadian director Philippe Falardeau’s drama ‘The Bleeder’, starring Liev Schreiber and based on the life of tough New York journeyman boxer Chuck Wepner, whose remarkable comeback saw him take Muhammad Ali to the 15th round in their 1975 title fight, and allegedly inspired the ‘Rocky’ story. In attendance were director Faladreau, plus the film’s stars and real life husband and wife Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts, there is no current UK or US release date.
The Bleeder @ Venice 2016 (courtesy of StormShadowCrew)
Sunday the 4th
El Ciudadano Ilustre (The Distinguished Citizen)
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Argentinian directors Gastón Duprat & Mariano Cohn kicked off the Sunday screenings with their drama ‘El Ciudadano Ilustre’; about an illustrious Nobel Prize-winning writer, who pays the uncomfortable price for using the people of his small Argentinian hometown as his subjects when he returns there after a 40 year absence.
The two directors were in attendance along with stars Oscar Martinez, Belen Chavanne and Andrea Frigerio, ‘El Ciudadano Ilustre’ is out now in Argentina with no UK or US release date yet.
El Ciudadano Ilustre @ Venice 2016 highlights (courtesy of la Biennale on YouTube)
Hacksaw Ridge
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Mel Gibson returned to the Lido on Sunday as director for an out-of-competition screening of biographical drama ‘Hacksaw Ridge’; The story of World War II hero, Seventh-day Adventist and combat medic Desmond Doss, who refused to carry a weapon or kill, only to become the first conscientious objector in U.S. Army history to be awarded the Medal of Honor.
The director brought along stars Andrew Garfield, Teresa Palmer, Luke Bracey, Hugo Weaving and Vince Vaughn, ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ out on the 4th of November 2016 in the US with no UK date yet.
Hacksaw Ridge @ Venice 2016 highlights (courtesy of AP on YouTube)
Réparer les Vivants (Heal the Living)
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The assembled media at the Lido were also treated to the premiere of Katell Quillévéré’s French drama ‘Réparer les Vivants’; the story of the tragically intertwined lives of two people, a young surfer on life support after an accident and middle-aged mother waiting for an organ donor.
Director Quillévéré was present and accompanied by cast members including Emmanuelle Seigner, Tahar Rahim, Kool Shen and Karim Leklou, the film is out on the 2nd of November in France with no UK date yet.
Réparer les Vivants @ Venice 2016 highlights (courtesy of la Biennale on YouTube)
Week 2 at La Biennale (Next Page)–>
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