The Venice Film Festival has become one of the best events in film. The movies are exciting and the red carpets outfits continually top the Met Gala's outfits if you ask me, and there is a *lot* of drama (remember Don't Worry Darling's Spitgate, absolutely wild press conference, and all the memes about Florence Pugh with her aeperol spritz? That was all Venice, baby.)
Because of the writers' and SAG-AFTRA actors'strikes, the festival has already shifted its schedule — Challengers, starring Zendaya, The Crown's Josh O'Connor, and West Side Story's Mike Faist is no longer the opener — but it still promises an exciting slew of fall movies. Here are the standouts.
Where is the Venice Film Festival 2023?
The festival is happening in Venice — surprise! To get more specific, the headquarters for the Venice Film Festival can be found in the Palazzo del Cinema on the Lido di Venezia.
When is the Venice Film Festival?
The film festival will begin at the end of this month — from August 30, 2023 to September 9, 2023.
Can anyone go to Venice Film Festival?
Yes, the festival is open to everyone! You can start buying tickets mid-August on the La Biennale di Venezia website for any screenings that aren't reserved for press or filmmakers.
Maestro
Image via Venice Film Festival/La Biennale di Venezia
Bradley Cooper stars as Leonard Bernstein in this biopic, which focuses on the relationship between Leonard and actress Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (played by Carey Mulligan). It's a love letter to life, and presents family, love, and art in a gripping and mesmerizing way.
Origin
Image via Venice Film Festival/La Biennale di Venezia
Origin is writer and director Ava DuVernay's latest film. Inspired by Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, the film explores the systems of race and hierarchy that have defined the American experience. It stars Aunjanue Ellis, Jon Bernthal, Jasmine Cephas Jones, and Nick Offerman.
Priscilla
Image via Venice Film Festival/La Biennale di Venezia/A24
If you loved last year's Elvis (I can now count myself among you because I *finally* watched it), then you'll want to add Priscilla to your watchlist. Based on Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir Elvis and Me, this A24 film is directed by Sofia Coppola and stars Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi. It examines the relationship between Priscilla and Elvis, but it also gives Priscilla the space to explore womanhood and identity.
Ferrari
Image via Venice Film Festival/La Biennale di Venezia
Starring Adam Driver and Penélope Cruz, Ferrari opens with Formula 1 ex-racer Enzo Ferrari in crisis. It's 1957, and he's trying to avoid bankruptcy while also mourning the loss of his son. He risks it all for the Mille Miglia, a 1,000-mile race across Italy that changes everything.
Poor Things
Image via Venice Film Festival/La Biennale di Venezia
Emma Stone's Belle sets off with a lawyer on the adventure of a lifetime after she's brought back to life by a quirky scientist. While this film was supposed to hit theaters the same month it premiered, it was delayed until December due to the strikes.
Finally Dawn (Finalmente l'alba)
Image via Venice Film Festival/La Biennale di Venezia
Starring Joe Keery, Willem Dafoe, and Lily James, Finally Dawn follows teenage ingenue Mimosa, who's hired as a film extra. However, her personal coming-of-age gets interrupted when the body of aspiring actress Wilma Montesi washes up at the beach.
Memory
Image via Venice Film Festival/La Biennale di Venezia
Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard star as a love-struck couple trying to build and strengthen a relationship shadowed by trauma. The film explores memory, identity, and trust, three themes I know the actors will knock out of the park.
Which movie from the Venice Film Festival are you excited for? Out of all of these, I cannot wait for Finally Dawn! Let us know which film you're eyeing in the comments!
Lead image via Venice Film Festival/La Biennale di Venezia/A24
