The 80th Venice Film Festival has begun. Because of the Hollywood strike, significantly fewer US film stars than usual were seen on the red carpet. The Italian colleagues showed solidarity.
The 80th Venice Film Festival has opened under the impression of the ongoing actors’ strikes in Hollywood. Fewer international film stars than usual came to the red carpet in the evening. There were a lot of Italian celebrities to see.
In her opening speech, actress Caterina Murino addressed the strikers in Hollywood: “A warm and supportive salute to those who are not here with us to defend the intellectual and economic value of their work.”
Jury President Damien Chazelle spoke of a warning that the industry had to put art in the foreground again. ‘La La Land’ and ‘Whiplash’ director Chazelle donned a T-shirt in support of the strikes over pay and the potential impact of artificial intelligence at a press conference to mark the opening of the film festival.
Damien Chazelle wears a t-shirt with the slogan ‘Writers Guild on Strike’ as he poses for a picture at the jury photocall during the film festival.
“Comandante” instead of “Challengers”
As a result, some US stars involved in films at this year’s festival will not come to Venice. This includes Bradley Cooper, whose film “Maestro” is in the competition. Emma Stone, who plays the leading role in the competition film “Poor Things” by Yorgos Lanthimos, is also said to stay away from the festival.
In addition, the film “Challengers” by Luca Guadagnino with US actress Zendaya in the leading role was originally supposed to be shown at the opening. Because of the strike, the arrangements were also made here.
The film “Comandante” was awarded the contract. The historical drama by Italian director Edoardo De Angelis tells the story of an Italian submarine commander in World War II. In 1940, during a combat operation in the Atlantic, Salvatore Todaro decided to rescue Belgian shipwrecked people after sinking their ship.
Director Cavani honored for lifetime achievement
The 90-year-old Italian director Liliana Cavani was awarded an honorary lion. Cavani accepted the lifetime achievement award from British actress Charlotte Rampling. She plays the leading role in Cavani’s film “The Night Porter” (1974).
The black-and-white thriller “The Theory of Everything” by Timm Kröger is the German entry in the competition. The screening of the new films by the old masters Woody Allen and Roman Polanski, who are controversial because of allegations of abuse, caused a lot of discussion.
The Golden Lion will be awarded at the end of the festival on September 9th. A total of 23 films compete for the festival’s highest award.