The 81st Venice Film Festival program 2024

The Venice International Film Festival, one of the most prestigious cinematic events in the world, is gearing up for its 81st edition.

The 81st Venice Film Festival will take place from August 27 to September 7, 2024, as usual at the Lido di Venezia.

During the press conference held on July 23, 2024, at the Biblioteca dell’Archivio Storico della Biennale, the main highlights of the program were revealed.

The President of the Biennale di Venezia, Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, and the Artistic Director of the Cinema Sector, Alberto Barbera, provided exclusive details about the films and stars that will animate the festival.

Highlights of the 81st Venice Film Festival

The 81st Venice Film Festival program 2024

This year, the program of the 81st Venice Film Festival features an eclectic selection of films and TV series, reaffirming the festival's significance in the global cinematic landscape. Among the most anticipated titles are:

1. Joker - Folie à Deux

The sequel to "Joker," which won the Golden Lion in 2019, will be presented in Competition. Joaquin Phoenix returns as Arthur Fleck, joined by Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. Expectations are high for this chapter, which promises to be as provocative as its predecessor.

2. Wolfs

Starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney, "Wolfs" will be screened in the Out of Competition section. This film, which has already generated significant curiosity, is set to be one of the festival's standout titles.

3. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

The long-awaited sequel to Tim Burton's cult classic will open the festival. After more than 30 years, the return of the quirky ghost Beetlejuice is one of the year's most anticipated events.

4. M - The Son of the Century

The Sky series directed by Joe Wright, featuring Luca Marinelli, will be a major highlight of the festival, offering a narrative that aligns perfectly with the cinematic ambitions of the event.

Stars and special guests

The program of the 81st Venice Film Festival will not disappoint cinema enthusiasts and big-screen stars. Some of the prominent names gracing the red carpet include:

Tilda Swinton
Julianne Moore
John Turturro (with his film "The Room Next Door")
Adrien Brody, Guy Pearce, and Felicity Jones (for "The Brutalist")
Angelina Jolie (for Pablo Larraín's "Maria")
Daniel Craig (for Luca Guadagnino's "Queer")

The festival will also welcome numerous Italian stars, including Gifuni, Favino, and Marinelli, highlighting the importance of Italian cinema.

Special sections and retrospectives

The 81st Venice Film Festival will offer a variety of sections and retrospectives:

Horizons: This section dedicated to new trends in cinema will include titles such as "Nonostante" by Valerio Mastandrea and a short film by Alice Rohrwacher.
Critics' Week and Authors' Days: Independent sections showcasing a selection of innovative and unreleased films.

Awards and tributes

This year, the festival will present two Golden Lions for Lifetime Achievement to two cinema legends: Sigourney Weaver and Peter Weir. Sigourney Weaver is renowned for her iconic roles in films such as "Alien" and "Ghostbusters," while Peter Weir is celebrated for masterpieces like "Dead Poets Society" and "Fearless."