Venice Film Festival 2018 (La Biennale)
The end of summer once again signalled a visit to the ‘Queen of the Adriatic’ and the start of eleven days of film appreciation and promotion this year, as filmmakers and shakers from across the globe converged on ‘La Serenissima’ with screenings and premieres for the 75th edition of the Venice Film Festival (La Biennale).
Unlike Cannes, Venice fully embraced streaming giants Netflix this year, with no less than six of their films showcasing at the Lido, and as the glitterati of global cinema graced press conferences, photocalls and red carpets—we breakdown the major happenings at one of the major stops on the long film festival and award season railway.
Jury
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This year’s principal jury—responsible for awarding the ‘Golden Lion’ and other prizes at festival’s end—was presided over by Mexican writer/director Guillermo del Toro and included Taiwanese actress/director Sylvia Chang, Danish actress Trine Dyrholm, French actress Nicole Garcia, Italian writer/director Paolo Genovese, Polish writer/director Małgorzata Szumowska, New Zealand writer/director Taika Waititi, Austrian actor Christoph Waltz and Australian actress Naomi Watts.
Premieres & Screenings
Wednesday the 29th
First Man
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After lighting up the festival in melodic style two years ago with his Oscar-winner ‘La La Land’, Damien Chazelle returned to Venice in biographical drama mode to open proceedings with an in competition world premiere of ‘First Man’—a chronicle of a reluctant legend set during the cold war and the height of the space race, following an unassuming navy pilot and his journey to NASA astronaut and first man on the moon.
The writer/director was joined in ‘La Serenissima’ by his stars Jason Clarke, Olivia Hamilton, Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy, ‘First Man’ is out on the 12th of October in the UK and US.
First Man @ Venice 2018 (courtesy of BiennaleChannel)
On My Skin (Sulla Mia Pelle)
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Opening day also ushered in some local representation and the first of six Netflix entries this year, as writer/director Alessio Cremonini assembled his stars Milvia Marigliano, Jasmine Trinca, Alessandro Borghi and Max Tortora for an ‘Orizzonti’ competition premiere of ‘On My Skin’; a sombre look at the injustice of the Italian justice system through the eyes of Stefano Cucchi, a young man arrested for a petty crime who died in neglectful and highly suspicious circumstances whilst in police custody in 2009. ‘On My Skin’ is out on the 12th of September in Italy and on Netflix.
On My Skin teaser (courtesy of Netflix)
Thursday the 30th
The Favourite
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The second day at this year’s festival culminated with a return to Venice for singular director Yorgos Lanthimos for an in competition gala world premiere of his latest subversive cinematic concoction ‘The Favourite’—a period drama set 18th century England and the reign of an ailing Queen Anne, defined by increasingly bizarre behaviour and her relationship with influential confidante Duchess Sarah Churchill, whose cousin arrives to upset the balance at court and create a triangle of power.
The Greek director was joined on the red carpet by his stars Joe Alwyn, Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Nicholas Hoult, ‘The Favourite’ is out on the 23rd of November in the US and on the 1st of January 2019 in the UK.
The Favourite Venice press conference (courtesy of The Upcoming)
Roma
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Day two this year also brought the second and one of the principal Netflix participants at this year’s festival (and eventual Golden Lion winner), as writer/director Alfonso Cuarón brought along his stars Nancy García García, Marina de Tavira and Yalitza Aparicio for an in competition premiere of ‘Roma’—a chronicle of human connection centred around a middle-class family in the turmoil and expansion of 1970s Mexico, and the maids serve them and enrich their lives, as Cuarón returns to his cultural and cinematic roots. ‘Roma’ is out on Netflix on the 14th of December, with a potential limited theatrical release currently under consideration.
Roma @ Venice 2018 (courtesy of BiennaleChannel)
The Mountain
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The third competition entry screening on Thursday came in the form of a premiere for writer/director Rick Alverson’s American drama ‘The Mountain’; a story set in 1950s USA and revolving around a shy young man struggling with recent tragedy, who latches on to a lobotomist as they tour asylums to promote his procedure, only to have a crisis of conscience when he begins to identify with the patients. Alverson was joined at the Lido by his stars Jeff Goldblum, Tye Sheridan and Hannah Gross, ‘The Mountain’ has no confirmed release dates yet.
The Mountain @ Venice 2018 (courtesy of BiennaleChannel)
Friday the 31st
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
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The first Friday at this year’s festival culminated in yet another major Netflix entry and the return of Joel and Ethan Coen to the lido for an in competition world premier of their latest ‘The Ballad of Buster Scruggs’, a Western anthology about the American frontier, consisting of six different stories centred around one misanthropic titular character.
The ‘Coen Brothers’ were on hand with their stars Bill Heck, Tim Blake Nelson and Harry Melling, ‘The Ballad of Buster Scruggs’ is out on the 16th of November on Netflix, with a limited theatrical release confirmed but unscheduled.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs @ Venice 2018 (courtesy of BiennaleChannel)
Non-Fiction (Doubles Vies)
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Day three this year also signalled French participation and the return of Olivier Assayas to the festival, flanked by his stars Nora Hamzawi, Christa Theret, Vincent Macaigne and Guillaume Canet for an in competition premiere of their contemporary journalistic drama ‘Non-Fiction’—a study of adaptation to a changing and increasingly digitised world, centred around an Parisian publisher who struggles to adapt to a changing industry and begins to lose faith in one of his faithful authors. ‘Non-Fiction’ is out on the 16th of January in France, with no other confirmed dates yet.
Non-Fiction @ Venice 2018 (courtesy of BiennaleChannel)
A Star Is Born
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Friday also brought some real star power to the Venice red carpet, as Hollywood star Bradley Cooper brought along music superstar and his co-star Lady Gaga for an out-of-competition premiere of his directorial debut ‘A Star is Born’—a remake of a remake of a remake, revolving around a washed up folk music star on a downward spiral who finds a new lease on life when he meets a talented aspiring singer, helping to turn her into a star . . . at the expense of his own future. ‘A Star Is Born’ is out on the 5th of October in the UK and US.
A Star Is Born Venice press conference (courtesy of Tomma Jenner)
Saturday the 1st
Suspiria
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After sidestepping his native film festival while showcasing eventual Oscar-winner ‘Call Me by Your Name’ last year, Sicilian director Luca Guadagnino returned to the lido in competition this year shouldering an added burden of responsibility, as he premiered his bold remake of a genre cult classic by a fellow Italian filmmaker, in the ominous shape of ‘Suspiria’—a new yet reverential version of the supernatural horror centred on an ambitious young American dance student who joins a prestigious academy in Berlin, only to discover that the school hides a dark sinister secret which threatens her sanity . . . and her very life.
Guadagnino was joined by his composer Thom Yorke and producer David Kajganich, plus the film’s stars Chloe Grace Moretz, Tilda Swinton, Dakota Johnson, Mia Goth and Jessica Harper,‘Suspiria’ is out in UK cinemas on the 16th of November, and in the US on the 2nd of November.
Suspiria @ Venice 2018 (courtesy of BiennaleChannel)
Peterloo
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Saturday also saw a British presence at this year’s festival, as former Venice prize winner Mike Leigh returned to the Lido, joined by his star Maxine Peake, with another ‘Golden Lion’ contender in the form of ‘Peterloo’; a historical social justice drama set Manchester in the summer of 1819, where thousands of hungry and poor subjects of the crown gather to protest for change, only to be charged by the overzealous military . . . with tragic results. ‘Peterloo’ is out on the 2nd of November in the UK, and the 9th of November in the US.
Peterloo @ Venice 2018 (courtesy of BiennaleChannel)
Close Enemies (Frères Ennemis)
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The third principal competition entry on Saturday was a crime-thriller affair, as David Oelhoffen returned to Venice after the success of his 2014 period drama ‘Far from Men’ with Franco-Belgian contemporary crime drama ‘Close Enemies’—the tale of of a criminal and a cop, once close friends in the drug blighted suburbs but separated by time and diverging paths, thrown back together by betrayal and circumstance, and a loyalty to their roots. Oelhoffen was joined at the Lido by his stars Marc Du Pontavice, Sofiane Zermani, Reda Kateb and Matthias Schoenaerts, ‘Close Enemies’ is out on the 3rd of October in France, with no other dates yet.
Close Enemies @ Venice 2018 (courtesy of BiennaleChannel)
Sunday the 2nd
The Sisters Brothers
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Sunday at La Biennale culminated with French director Jacques Audiard (A Prophet, Dheepan) unveiling his first pure English language film with an in competition premiere for ‘The Sisters Brothers’—an 18th century American Western following the fate of a pair of notorious brothers and assassins-for-hire, as they hunt a gold prospector with a valuable secret across the unforgiving American west.
Audiard was joined at the Lido by only one of his stars John C. Reilly, flanked by screenwriter Thomas Bidegain and composer Alexandre Desplat. ‘The Sisters Brothers’ is out on the 21st of September in the US, with no UK date yet.
The Sister Brothers trailer (courtesy of Annapurna Pictures)
What You Gonna Do When the World’s on Fire?
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The second Golden Lion contender to premiere on Sunday was a more factual affair, as Italian director Roberto Minervini once again turned his eye to the marginalised in a divided America and brought his latest docu-drama to Venice ‘What You Gonna Do When the World’s on Fire?’; a stark study of race in contemporary USA, centred around a black community in the American south who try to make sense of a latest series of police killings of their youngsters, while contemplating their place in a society they no longer feel a part of. The director was on hand with his stars Judy Hill, Kevin Goodman, Ronaldo King and Titus Turner, ‘What You Gonna Do When the World’s on Fire?’ has no confirmed release dates.
What You Gonna Do When the World’s on Fire? @ Venice 2018 (courtesy of BiennaleChannel)
Charlie Says
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The end of week one at Venice also saw some rare participation by a female director this year, as Mary Harron brought along her stars Matt Smith, Marianne Rendón, Hannah Murray and Sosie Bacon for an Orizzonti competition premiere of ‘Charlie Says’; a sombre look at the notorious Charles Manson murders from the perspective of three of his young female ‘disciples’, condemned to life imprisonment and enough time to grasp the severity of their crimes. ‘Charlie Says’ has no confirmed release dates yet.
Charlie Says Venice 2018 clip (courtesy of The Upcoming)
Week 2 at La Biennale (Next Page)–>
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