Venice Film Festival 2023: Dates, lineup, opening and closing movies

Alberto Barbera, the head of the Venice Film Festival, revealed the official lineup for the 80th edition of the prestigious event today. Despite successfully navigating through the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic and implementing necessary protocols, the festival is now confronted with a new obstacle – the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Unlike previous years, this time, there is anticipation for a reduced presence of high-profile Hollywood stars and a smaller US representation on the Lido. Studios are understandably cautious about launching their projects without the usual celebrity support, considering Venice's significant role as a launchpad for awards season and a prime opportunity to garner media attention for talent.


Meanwhile, the Venice Film Festival has already switched its opening selection, after the movie that had been slated to open pulled out because of the ongoing Hollywood strike, organisers said.


Edoardo De Angelis' "Comandante" will now open the 80th Venice International Film Festival, in place of Luca Guadagnino's "Challengers", the festival said in a statement late on Friday. "Challengers" featuring US star Zendaya, "will not participate at the Festival following a decision made by the production," owing to ongoing industrial action in Hollywood, it said.

Venice festival is set to commence on August 30 and will end on September 9 with the screening of "La sociedad de la nieve" ("Society of the Snow") by Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona, the organisers said.

VENEZIA 80 COMPETITON

The Promised Land, dir: Nikolaj Arcel
Dogman, dir: Luc Besson
La Bête, dir: Bertrand Bonello
Hors-Saison, dir: Stéphane Brizé
Enea, dir: Pietro Castellitto
Comandante, dir: Edoardo de Angelis (opening night film)
Maestro, dir: Bradley Cooper
Priscilla, dir: Sofia Coppola
Finalmente L’Alba, dir: Saverio Costanzo
Lubo, dir: Giorgio Diritti
Origin, dir: Ava DuVernay
The Killer, dir: David Fincher
Memory, dir: Michel Franco
Io Capitano, dir: Matteo Garrone
Evil Does Not Exist, Ryusuke Hamaguchi
The Green Border, dir: Agnieszka Holland
Die Theorie Von Allem, dir: Timm Kroger
Poor Things, dir: Yorgos Lanthimos
El Conde, dir: Pablo Larrain
Ferrari, dir: Michael Mann
Adagio, dir: Stefano Sollima
Woman Of, dirs: Malgorzata Szumowska, Michal Englert
Holly, dir: Fien Troch

FAQs

Q1. What is the opening date of Venice Film Festival?
A1. Venice festival is set to commence on August 30 and will end on September 9 with the screening of "La sociedad de la nieve" ("Society of the Snow") by Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona, the organisers said.

Q2. What will be the first movie at Venice Film Festival 2023?
A2. Edoardo De Angelis' "Comandante" will now open the 80th Venice International Film Festival.