MILAN: Jane Campion's "The Power of the Dog", Pedro Almodovar's "Parallel Mothers" and Kristen Stewart's turn as Princess Diana in "Spencer" are among the titles vying for the top prize at this year's Venice film festival, which runs Sept. 1-11.
The world's oldest film festival, regarded as a showcase for Oscar contenders as awards season approaches, hopes to welcome back Hollywood celebrities this year after a scaled-down 2020 edition.
New Zealand filmmaker Campion, known for "The Piano", will present her drama starring Benedict Cumberbatch as a sadistic ranch owner who launches a campaign against a young widow, interpreted by Kirsten Dunst, in 1920s Montana.
A Netflix production, "The Power of The Dog" had been invited to screen out of competition at the Cannes festival but opted instead for Venice, which unlike its French rival does not demand a theatrical release for films vying for the top prize.
Spain's Almodovar reunites with one his favourite actresses, Penelope Cruz, in "Parallel Mothers", while "Spencer", by Chilean director Pablo Larrain, film centres on a weekend in the early 1990s when Diana decided to separate from Prince Charles.
They are among 21 films in the main competition, which include Maggie Gyllenhaal's directorial debut "The Lost Daughter", based on an Elena Ferrante novel, and the "The Hand of God" by Paolo Sorrentino - one of five Italian titles seeking to scoop up the Golden Lion top award.
Ridley Scott's medieval epic "The Last Duel", starring Matt Damon, Adam Driver and Ben Affleck, and Denis Villeneuve's hotly anticipated science-fiction tale "Dune", with Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, will both premiere in Venice out-of-competition.
Festival director Alberto Barbera hailed the return to the Lido waterfront of "of U.S. studios and of A-list stars who last year were a little wanting".
He told a virtual news conference the quality of films this year was higher than usual, and the line-up featured several films lasting three hours or more, some disturbingly violent scenes and many stories with strong women characters.
"It's as if the pandemic helped stimulate creativity all around," he said.
With contagion rates on the rise again, anti-COVID restrictions imposed last year will remain in place, including the capacity of festival theatres which has been halved to 4,000 viewers.
Reuters
Tue Jul 27 2021
Kristen Stewart's turn as Princess Diana in "Spencer" is among the titles vying for the top prize at this year's Venice film festival, which runs September 1-11. - REUTERS
Penunjuk perasaan Palestin tempelak wartawan AS
Mereka menuduh wartawan A.S sembunyikan dan berikan gambaran salah mengenai perang di Gaza.
Lawatan ke Riyadh: Blinken melawat Arab Saudi esok
Setiausaha Negara Amerika Syarikat, Antony Blinken akan melawat Arab Saudi pada Isnin untuk bertemu dengan rakan serantau dan membincangkan usaha mencapai gencatan senjata di Gaza dan pembebasan tebusan Israel.
Iraq lulus akta penjara maksimum 15 tahun
Parlimen Iraq meluluskan undang-undang yang menjenayahkan hubungan sejenis dengan hukuman penjara maksimum 15 tahun pada Sabtu.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: MB nafi rumah terbuka Selangor langgar akta
Penganjuran Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri Peringkat Negeri Selangor yang diadakan pada Sabtu malam di pekan Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB) di sini, tidak melanggar Akta Kesalahan Pilihan Raya 1954 (AKPR).
Pengurus rumah kebajikan didenda RM4,500 cederakan warga emas
Seorang pengurus rumah kebajikan didenda RM4,500 selepas mengaku bersalah mendatangkan kecederaan kepada seorang warga emas.
Amiruddin nafi rumah terbuka langgar peraturan pilihan raya
Menteri Besar Selangor Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari menafikan dakwaan bahawa penganjuran Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri oleh kerajaan negeri di pekan Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) pada Sabtu, melanggar peruntukan Akta Kesalahan Pilihan Raya 1954.
Misi teroka peluang ekonomi, tarik pelaburan baharu di WEF - Anwar
Malaysia dalam misi meneroka pelbagai peluang ekonomi dan menarik pelaburan baharu pada Mesyuarat Khas Forum Ekonomi Dunia (WEF) di Riyadh, Arab Saudi yang akan berlangsung dua hari bermula hari ini.
Polis Jerman rampas 4 Bugatti Veyron
Jerman merampas empat kereta model Bugatti Veyron yang jarang ditemui dari kemudahan simpanan persendirian di Munich, Jerman, yang dikaitkan dengan skandal 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), menurut laporan media Jerman.
AWANI Ringkas: Dijangka diniagakan sekitar RM4.77 berbanding dolar AS
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Mutawif pimpin jemaah 'istimewa' tunai umrah guna tongkat
Menjadi impian umat Islam di seluruh dunia termasuk golongan kurang upaya untuk menjejakkan kaki ke tanah suci Makkah bagi menunaikan ibadah haji dan umrah.