Venice Film Festival Highlights: Awards, Buzz, and Kevin Costner’s ‘Horizon’
The 81st Venice Film Festival wraps up this Saturday with the world premiere of Kevin Costner’s “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2” and the much-anticipated awards ceremony.
With no clear frontrunner emerging, all eyes are on the jury led by Isabelle Huppert as they decide this year’s winners. The 21 films in competition have sparked passionate debates, with some divisive titles generating both fervent supporters and detractors.
Among the contenders for the prestigious Golden Lion are high-profile entries such as Todd Phillips’ “Joker: Folie à Deux,” featuring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga; Pablo Larraín’s biopic “Maria,” starring Angelina Jolie as the iconic soprano Maria Callas; and the erotic thriller “Babygirl,” where Nicole Kidman navigates a complex affair with intern Harris Dickinson. Other notable films include Luca Guadagnino’s adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ work, “Queer,” with Daniel Craig; Brady Corbet’s epic “The Brutalist,” depicting the life of an architect and a Holocaust survivor, featuring Adrien Brody; and Pedro Almodóvar’s meditation on death and friendship, “The Room Next Door,” starring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton.
Five years ago, the Venice jury made waves by awarding the Golden Lion to “Joker,” which later earned Phoenix an Oscar for Best Actor. Last year’s top prize went to “Poor Things,” while the year prior saw the documentary “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” take home the honor.
Over the past decade, Venice has solidified its status as a crucial launching pad for awards season, having hosted four Best Picture winners since 2014, including “Birdman,” “Spotlight,” “The Shape of Water,” and “Nomadland,” along with 19 nominees. This year’s festival has reignited excitement, with A-list stars returning to the Lido after a strike-impacted event last year. Celebrities like George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke, and Sigourney Weaver have added star power to the festivities.
Fashion moments have also stolen the spotlight, with Lady Gaga donning a stunning Christian Dior gown and a vintage lace Philip Treacy headpiece, and Nicole Kidman in a figure-hugging Schiaparelli design. Cate Blanchett dazzled in an Armani Privé gown adorned with cascading pearls, while Angelina Jolie graced the red carpet with a chic fur stole. Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig showcased their couple style, with Weisz in a glittering blue Versace gown and Craig in a cream Loewe suit. The cast of “Beetlejuice” also paid homage to the film’s aesthetic with their unique looks.
The festival concludes with the highly anticipated second installment of Costner’s self-financed passion project. Following a lackluster box office for the first chapter after its Cannes debut, “Chapter Two” found its place on the festival circuit instead of a summer release.
