As a seasoned gamer and movie enthusiast with a deep appreciation for documentaries and independent films, I’m thrilled to share my thoughts on this year’s Venice Critics’ Week lineup. The selection of seven competition features and two out-of-competition titles for the 39th edition of this prestigious event is truly intriguing.
At the Venice Film Festival’s Critics’ Week segment, which showcases debut films, the lineup for seven competitive entries and two non-competitive ones was announced for the 39th installment taking place from August 28 to September 7.
Among the more timely entries is Homegrown from U.S. director Michael Premo. The documentary follows three far-right activists as they campaign for Donald Trump during the tumultuous 2020 election.
Alexandra Simpson, a filmmaker from the United States and France, introduces her first film at Venice, titled “No Sleep Till“. The drama takes place in a Florida coastal town as it prepares for an approaching hurricane. Notable films in the Venice Critics’ Week competition include “Paul & Paulette Take A Bath” by UK-French director Jethro Massey, where an American photographer and a French girl form a bond through a disturbing game that involves reenacting infamous crimes at their actual sites. Milad Tangshir, an Iranian-Italian filmmaker, presents “Anywhere Anytime”, inspired by the Italian neorealist classic “Bicycle Thieves“, and focusing on a modern immigrant’s story. Lastly, Vietnamese director Dương Diệu Linh offers a woman-centric drama named “Don’t Cry Butterfly” in which a woman hires a sorcerer to win back her husband after discovering his infidelity on live television.
The Venice Critics’ Week will commence by presenting an out-of-competition showing of “Planet B” directed by Aude Léa Rapin from France. This cyberpunk sci-fi production includes Adèle Exarchopoulos (“Blue Is the Warmest Color”) in its cast. The event will conclude with Lawrence Valin’s “Little Jaffna,” a drama centered around Paris’ Tamil community.
The artistic director of Critics’ Week, Beatrice Fiorentino, commented on this year’s lineup, stating that it reflects the ongoing global uncertainties. According to Fiorentino, “We cannot look away from the depictions of the here and now.”
Several competing films can win various awards at the Venice Film Festival, one of which is a €10,000 ($11,154) Grand Prize. On July 23, the main selection for the 81st Venice Film Festival will be announced. The festival itself will take place from August 28 to September 7.
Check out the fill Venice Critics’ Week lineup below.
Opening Film (Out of Competition)
Planet B
Dir. Aude Léa Rapin
France, Belgium
Competition
Anywhere Anytime
Dir. Milad Tangshir
Italy
Don’t Cry, Butterfly
Dir, Dương Diệu Linh
Vietnam, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia
Homegrown
Dir. Michael Premo
United States
No Sleep Till
Dir. Alexandra Simpson
United States, Switzerland
Paul & Paulette Take A Bath
Dir. Jethro Massey
United Kingdom
Peacock
Dir. Bernhard Wenger
Austria, Germany
Perfumed With Mint
Dir. Muhammed Hamdy
Egypt, France, Tunisia
Closing Film (Out of Competition)
Little Jaffna
Dir. Lawrence Valin
France
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2024-07-22 14:24