- Anticipated Cinematic Delights for Movie Enthusiasts at the Venice Film Festival
The 81st Venice Film Festival commences today, showcasing the continuation of the infamous horror-comedy "Beetlejuice". Famous faces, Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O'Hara, are anticipated on the star-studded red carpet. They have teamed up once more with filmmaker Tim Burton, who helmed the original release in '88, for "Beetlejuice 2: Beetlejuice's Back".
Venice Film Festival Unveils "Beetlejuice 2"
Emerging actress Jenna Ortega, renowned for her series "Wednesday", also features in the film. Keaton re-embodies his role as the mischievous apparition with outrageous locks, triggering Lydia Deetz's (Ryder) frustration as he reappears in her life.
The festival stretches until September 7. In the race for the festival's prestigious Golden Lion award, 21 films are up for grabs. These include Todd Phillips' new "Joker" sequel, "Joker: Madness Duet", with Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. In 2019, the first installation won the top prize in Venice.
Angelina Jolie stars in "Maria" by Pablo Larraín, and "Queer" by Luca Guadagnino, featuring Daniel Craig, and "Babygirl" with Nicole Kidman, are also in the running. The responsibility of deciding the Golden Lion lies with a nine-member jury, led by French actress Isabelle Huppert, that also includes German director Julia von Heinz.
Out of competition, "Horizon" part two, Kevin Costner's Western epic, and "Wolfs", an action comedy with Brad Pitt and George Clooney, directed by Jon Watts, will be screened.
17 German Partnerships
Germany contributes with 17 collaborative productions across various festival sections. Among these, Andres Veiel's documentary "Riefenstahl" will be showcased out of competition. This film is produced by Sandra Maischberger, who, alongside Veiel, spent years extensively researching in Leni Riefenstahl's archive. The subject of the film is the iconic Nazi propaganda filmmaker, Riefenstahl, notorious for works like "Triumph of the Will".
One of the films premiering at the festival is "September 5" by Swiss director Tim Fehlbaum, offering an inside look at the Munich Olympics hostage crisis from a TV crew's perspective. Leonie Benesch ("The Classroom") steals the show in a leading role.
American actress Sigourney Weaver, celebrated for her performances in the "Alien" series, will be granted the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival. Festival director Alberto Barbera praised Weaver for successfully combining the finest art-house cinema with audience films while never compromising her personal integrity.
The European Union has provide funding for several of the collaborative productions showcased at the Venice Film Festival, such as Andres Veiel's documentary "Riefenstahl". The European Union's support for the film industry continues to facilitate the creation and distribution of diverse and thought-provoking cinema across the continent.
