In its last two or three events, the Venice Film Biennale has tried – and largely succeeded – to outshine its brother, the Cannes Film Festival. Brad Pitt showed up there in 2019 to present the ambitious Ad Astra, the premiere of Todd Haynes’ Oscar-winning Joker and Denis Villeneuve’s blockbuster Dune. In this sense, the collection of films that we will be watching next September in Venice looks less… Hollywood, but does not lose its cinematic value.

After all, how could it be worse when the competition section competes with contemporary filmmakers like González Iñárritu (Bardo), Luca Guantanamo (Bones and All) or Darren Aronofsky (The Whale). There will also be Florian Zeller, who impressed in 2020 with the acclaimed “Father” and is now returning with the atypical “Son” sequel. Similarly, Martin McDonagh of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri will present The Banshee of Inisherin.

Iñárritu, Guantanamo and Aronofsky, as well as Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig will be in Mostra.

However, big stars will not do on the red carpet of the Lido. First up are the opening movie characters: Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig, who star in White Noise, Noah Baubach’s highly anticipated adaptation of Don DeLillo’s novel of the same name, which was also the first Netflix production to be chosen to open. such a big festival. There will also be Cate Blanchett as “TAR”, the fast-growing Ana de Armas who played Marilyn Monroe in Andrew Dominic’s Blonde, and pop star Harry Styles opposite Florence Pugh who starred in Don’t Worry Darling. ‘ by Olivia Wilde.

Jafar Panahi deserves special mention. An Iranian director was sentenced last week by his country’s authorities to six years in prison for taking a critical political stance; however, his film titled “No Bears” will arrive in Mostra, describing “two parallel love stories in which people run into each other.” hidden barriers, the power of prejudice and the mechanisms of power”. Finally, it is worth noting the steady presence of television in Venice, this time with two glamorous premieres: The Exodus of the Kingdom by the heretic Lars von Trier, as well as The Copenhagen Cowboy by the master Nicolas Winding Refn and Netflix. .