In Venice, during the 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival that has been celebrated, it has emerged as a grand occasion. Starting from 28 August 2024, the festival would demonstrate a mix of thrilling alien flavors, Hollywood ambience and action packed films.
Yes! It’s true that this year’s festivity opens with the global presentation of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” and that is just one out of many surprises waiting throughout. Let’s explore some of the major attractions of this year’s festival.
A Spooky Start with “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”
Prepare yourself for saying his name three times, he is back! The much-awaited sequel “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” gets the festival off and running, and it is the talk of every body. Tim Burton once again brings Michael Keaton as the ghostly prankster Betelgeuse in this movie. Fans of the first movie cannot wait to see him again with his distinctively dark sense of humor.
Not just that! Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara, who were part of the original film, are also back adding some nostalgic touch. The film also has fresh faces such as Jenna Ortega who recently wowed everyone in her role in the hit series “Wednesday.” And let’s not forget about the glamorous Monica Bellucci; every one is curious about her role in the movie. This star-studded cast certainly sets up all times’ festivals with a spooky stylishness that defines it best on red carpet.
Hollywood’s A-Listers Take Over Venice
The Venice Film Festival has a long-standing history of drawing Hollywood superstars, and it remains the same again this time around. The 2024 edition of the festival features an impressive array of films that are already touted as potential winners.
A much anticipated film is Todd Phillips’ “Joker: Folie à Deux,” which is the continuation of his successful 2019 movie “Joker”. In this sequel, we see Joaquin Phoenix reprising his troubled role as Arthur Fleck while Lady Gaga plays Harley Quinn, a significant character from previous chapters.
With powerful performances and Phillips’ direction, it’s anticipated that this film will be one of the high points at the festival. Historically, Venice prides itself on showcasing movies that later go ahead to win big during awards seasons; hence “Joker: Folie à Deux” seems poised to also fall into this category.
Another highly publicized film that might be premiering soon is Maria, a biopic directed by Pablo Larraín which revolves around the famous opera singer Maria Callas. Angelina Jolie stars as the title character and it tells the story about one of the most prominent personalities in the music world. There are rumors that she could be nominated for an Academy award for acting in this movie; so everyone must watch it when they had time during the festival.
Alternatively, if you are looking forward to something that borderlines on daring and wildness, but still interesting enough you might want to consider Nicole Kidman’s latest production titled “Babygirl,” which can be classified under erotic thrillers.
Directed by up-and-coming filmmaker Lily King, this suspenseful tale stars Kidman and Harris Dickinson who are going through some truly suspense-filled times together; definitely conversational piece material right there. As someone notorious for her audaciously difficult characters, it has been predicted that Kidman’s work in “Babygirl” will leave a mark at this year’s festival.
The Oldest Film Festival in the World
It is not only famous for stars; it also has its own story. La Biennale di Venezia set it up in 1932, making it the longest running event of this kind that has been host to some of the most amazing foreign films ever made. Instead of being held as a competition initially, the festival turned into an annual programme exhibiting international best movies all-time. For example, many timeless films like “Grand Hotel”, “It Happened One Night” were premiered at Venice over the years.
Since 1949, this prestigious award known as Golden Lion has been given to iconic movies in many ways. In 1951, it was won by Akira Kurosawa’s “Rashômon,” while others include “Belle de Jour” (1967), “Brokeback Mountain” (2005) and last year’s victor – “Poor Things.” For quite some time now, Venice Film Festival is a platform for movies that are later seen competing at awards ceremony season and this year’s competition is predicted to be very challenging.
The Magic of Venice
The stunning setting of Venice makes the Venice Film Festival a unique event compared to other annual film festivals held around the globe. It takes place in beautiful Venice with its twisty canals, historical buildings, and ageless allure. Its special location lends an enchanting air to the festival.
The city comes alive with anticipation as day after day goes by at this year’s Venice Film Festival. Each part of the city contributes its own bit of wonder; from San Marco Square to lovely Venice’s bridges – every inch is instrumental to this occasion’s beauty. However you choose to participate; either as an attendee or watcher from abroad, this 81st edition is more than just a meeting of different cultures but a once-in-a-lifetime experience that revolves around film artistry.
The 81st Venice Film Festival is going to be an extraordinary occasion. There’s a variety of movies in the selection ranging from the supernatural comedy of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” to the intense character study of “Joker: Folie à Deux” and the historical weightiness of “Maria.” Whichever way you are looking at it, it doesn’t matter whether because of those red carpet moments, pathbreaking films or industry talks, it will still be a great film festival edition this year.