The 81st Venice International Film Festival, organized by the Venice Biennale and helmed by director Alberto Barbera, has returned in full splendor at the Lido, running from August 28 to September 7. This year’s edition promises to be a dazzling affair, with Hollywood’s biggest stars gracing the red carpet, but the festival’s true heart remains its dedication to premiering some of the most significant films of the upcoming season.

While the event continues to draw attention for its star-studded lineup, it also serves as a launching pad for a wide array of international films. The 2024 festival features an eclectic mix of genres and styles across its various sections, including In Competition, Out of Competition, Orizzonti, Orizzonti Extra, Venice Classics, Biennale College Cinema, alongside Giornate degli Autori and Venice Immersive.

Among the most anticipated films are a biopic on the legendary opera singer Maria Callas, the much-talked-about horror-comedy Beetlejuice Beetlejuice directed by Tim Burton, and the return of Joaquin Phoenix in his iconic role as the Joker in Joker: Folie à Deux. These films, along with many others, are expected to make waves not just in Venice but across the global cinematic landscape.

As the festival unfolds, all eyes will be on the Lido, where cinematic art and Hollywood glamour come together in a celebration of the very best in film.

Here are the must-see films from the list below:

1.

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (August 28)

Tim Burton returns to the director’s chair with a new tale featuring the mischievous and irreverent ghostly exorcist, Beetlejuice, once again played by Michael Keaton. The star-studded cast includes Jenna Ortega from Wednesday, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Willem Dafoe, Justin Theroux, and Monica Bellucci, who is now partnering with Burton. The story follows three generations of the Deetz family, who return to Winter River after a family tragedy. Lydia finds herself haunted by Beetlejuice once again when her rebellious teenage daughter Astrid discovers the infamous model of the town from the first film in the attic, reopening the portal to the afterlife. The film hits theaters on September 5, distributed by Warner Bros.

2.

“Maria” (August 29)

British screenwriter Steven Knight, known for Peaky Blinders and Locke, teams up with Chilean director Pablo Larraín for a passionate biopic on the final years of opera legend Maria Callas. Following his acclaimed works Jackie and Spencer, Larraín once again delves into the life of a famous woman, this time focusing on Callas during her troubled last years in Paris. Angelina Jolie delivers a compelling performance as the elusive and tormented soprano, likely appearing in flashbacks that contrast her fading twilight years with her dazzling, glorious days on stage, including her tumultuous relationship with Aristotle Onassis. The film will be released in theaters by 01 Distribution.

 

3. 

“Babygirl” (August 30)

Nicole Kidman reigns supreme on both the small and big screens this September. While she continues to shine as a producer and star of sophisticated thrillers like The Perfect Couple on Netflix, her latest film Babygirl premieres in Venice, delving into the complexities of age-gap relationships, still seen as taboo. Kidman plays a CEO entangled in a complicated affair with a much younger intern, portrayed by Harris Dickinson, where corporate power dynamics and sexual politics collide. Directed by Dutch filmmaker Halina Reijn, known for Bodies Bodies Bodies, this erotic thriller also features Antonio Banderas and is produced by A24. The film will be distributed in theaters by Eagle.

4.

“The Order” (August 31)

Jude Law takes on both the role of producer and lead actor in The Order, a gripping crime thriller set in the 1980s. Law plays an FBI agent investigating a series of crimes in the Pacific Northwest, suspecting they are linked to a white supremacist group. Nicholas Hoult stars as the group’s charismatic leader. The film is directed by Australian filmmaker Justin Kurzel, known for Macbeth (2015) and Assassin’s Creed (2016)

5.

“Wolfs” (September 1)

Brad Pitt and George Clooney reunite for the first time since Ocean’s Eleven in Wolfs – Lupi solitari, an Apple TV+ production “designed for the big screen.” As superstars of the Venice Film Festival, Clooney teams up with his longtime friend Pitt to play two fixers hired to cover up a high-profile crime. Both characters are lone wolves who insist on working solo, but they eventually form a contentious alliance. Before streaming on Apple TV+, the film will debut in theaters on September 19, distributed by Sony Pictures.

6.

“The Brutalist” (September 1)

Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist is a sweeping 215-minute drama that follows the decades-long journey of architect László Toth (Adrien Brody) and his wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) as they flee post-World War II Europe to start a new life in America. There, Toth encounters industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce), who commissions him to design a monument—a project that will forever change the couple’s lives.

7.

“The Room Next Door” (September 2)

Pedro Almodóvar makes his English-language film debut with The Room Next Door, starring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton. The film arrives with high expectations, though details about the plot remain scarce. According to Almodóvar, the story centers on an imperfect mother and her resentful daughter who become estranged due to a misunderstanding. The director has hinted that the film also explores themes of war, death, friendship, and sexual pleasure. Scheduled for a December theatrical release by Warner Bros.

8.

“Queer” (September 3)

Luca Guadagnino directs Queer, an adaptation of William Burroughs’ 1950s LGBTQ+ novel, with a screenplay by Justin Kuritzkes, known for Challengers. The film follows Daniel Craig as Lee, an American drifter in 1940s Mexico City who becomes obsessively attracted to a fellow American addict, Eugene, played by Drew Starkey. This marks another queer role for Craig, following his portrayal of detective Benoit Blanc in Knives Out. The film will be released in Italy by Lucky Red.

9.

“Diva Futura” (September 4)

Dubbed “Italy’s Boogie Nights” by the British press, Diva Futura is Giulia Steigerwalt’s second directorial effort. The film stars Pietro Castellitto, son of Sergio Castellitto, as Riccardo Schicchi, a renowned Sicilian porn mogul who co-founded the Diva Futura modeling agency in 1983 with Ilona Staller. The agency became a major player in adult film casting, production, and television, serving as a one-stop shop for erotic entertainment in Italy. Based on Debora Attanasio’s memoir, Non dite alla mamma che faccio la segretaria, the film explores the vibrant and controversial world of Italian erotica. It will be distributed by PiperFilm.

10.

“Joker: Folie à Deux” (September 4)

Todd Phillips returns with Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to his 2019 film that shocked audiences with its unsettling and psychotic portrayal of the Joker, played by the enigmatic Joaquin Phoenix. The first chapter, which earned eleven Oscar nominations, was a groundbreaking piece of cinema. This new installment promises to be “completely different,” according to director Alberto Barbera. Described as a dystopian musical and “one of the boldest, most courageous, and creative films in recent American cinema,” it sees Phoenix reprising his role as the iconic clown. The sequel also introduces Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, adding a new layer of intrigue and disturbance. The film will be released by Warner Bros. on October 2.

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