The fall film festival season is always one of the most exciting times of the year for any dedicated cinephile. Now is the time when a plethora of hotly anticipated films will start making either their debut or resurgence from previous festivals, and it’s often the moment when awards season truly kicks in. At the starting point every year is the Venice International Film Festival, and this year, the 83rd edition has an intriguing lineup with a mixture of familiar auteurs and new voices waiting to be discovered. It’s a moment that creates an incredible amount of anticipation as we wait to see just how impactful these works are. There are so many films that are playing at Venice that are intriguing and exciting, and here’s a small sample of those titles that have truly piqued the curiosity and fascination of our attending writers, Josh Parham and Ema Sasic.
Bucking Fastard, dir. Werner Herzog
Does this movie have the potential to be a genius, weird-as-all-hell odyssey, or a totally bonkers misfire from a well-respected auteur director? Yes, all of the above, but I’m staying optimistic and leaning toward the former. “Bucking Fastard” – a film title that’s sure to get many of us in trouble with the slip of the tongue – pairs sisters Rooney and Kate Mara in a film for the first time, and everything about it seems like a trip. Their two sister characters in the film speak in unison, love the same man, and have the same dreams. A short clip was released a few weeks ago showing just how bonkers the dialogue and their performances are going to be, and I couldn’t be more excited to succumb to the madness. Here’s hoping it doesn’t go too off the rails, though.
–Ema Sasic
Bunker, dir. Florian Zeller
If you told me the Oscar-winning director/writer of “The Father,” a brilliant film in every regard, would follow it up with a huge disappointment like “The Son,” I wouldn’t have believed you. And yet, that’s sadly what happened. But I have hope for Florian Zeller’s third feature film, “Bunker.” He’s tapped Oscar winners/married couple Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz to star in this psychological thriller about morals and a relationship on the rocks, and those two alone are worth the price of admission. There’s a lot he can do here by utilizing their already-incredible chemistry, but I hope he doesn’t lean too far into the melodrama like he did with his last film.
–Ema Sasic
Company, dir. Casey Affleck
Casey Affleck may have an established and respected career as an actor, but his short directorial career has been met with mixed reactions, to put it kindly. However, “Company” could represent his most intriguing effort to date. There’s already a fascinating dynamic at play with a narrative that features layers of interconnected storylines and time periods, which could serve as a compelling dissection of provocative character studies. What’s perhaps the most engrossing element of the film is the cast that has been assembled, which includes the likes of Nick Nolte, Scoot McNairy and Ben Mendelsohn. To watch such fine actors in a film that aims to be a mediation on powerful human emotions makes this one to look forward to. Affleck’s efforts as a director have not been shown to be incredibly notable to date, but there’s an ambition with the storytelling here that could prove to be more impactful outing.
–Josh Parham
The Echo Chamber, dir. Andrea Pallaoro
Andrea Pallaoro, the director/writer behind the intimate drama “Monica,” returns to the Lido with “The Echo Chamber,” a love story starring Alicia Vikander, Susan Sarandon, and Luca Marinelli. This is Bernardo Bertolucci’s final screenplay, but Pallaoro said in recent interviews that, with co-writers Ilaria Bernardini and Ludovica Rampoldi, he made the story his own with a tale full of love, longing, absence, possession and obsession. All of that sounds juicy, and it could be a big showcase for “The Eight Mountains” star Marinelli, who plays a music producer struggling with drug addiction, according to Deadline.
–Ema Sasic
Furies, dir. Rami Kodeih
One of the best aspects of a huge film festival is that it gives many the opportunity for discovery. While there are plenty of filmmakers who have already established their voices as recognizable and respected, there are a plethora of others who have not quite had the same level of exposure. It’s exciting when one gets the chance to make such a find, and “Furies” from Rami Kodeih could very well be that kind of gem. Set during the economic collapse in Lebanon, two women take bold action and plan a heist in an effort to retrieve the money that the banks have refused to give back to them. It’s an alluring premise right off the bat, tackling a national issue and the ordinary citizens it affects through the lens of compelling crime narrative. Kodeih has worked on several acclaimed short films, but his feature film work has not been as extensive. What a wonderful opportunity to expand his filmography and hopefully bear witness to an enticing showcase of essential commentary.
–Josh Parham
Ink, dir. Danny Boyle
Any film that opens a film festival always has a great deal of scrutiny around it. It can be an important omen that determines how the rest of the festival might play out, so it’s necessary to find an appropriate tone setter. Perhaps fortunes will be favorable for Danny Boyle’s latest. After a string of disappointing efforts, he managed to find a renewed interest by returning to a franchise he originated with “28 Years Later.” With such an acclaimed entry, he sets his sights on another looming figure with nefarious intent with “Ink”, focusing on the Rupert Murdoch media empire. Reteaming with Jack O’Connell and a cast that also features Guy Pearce and Claire Foy, the project sounds like an intriguing analysis of a highly controversial subject. In these heightened political times, this could very well make a significant impact.
–Josh Parham
Musk, dir. Alex Gibney
Alex Gibney will always be an admirable figure in the world of documentaries, simply because of how consistent he is. In a time when the medium has seen a struggle in mainstream distribution, his output remains impressively consistent. He’s also someone consumed by topicality and works quickly to deliver pieces that speak to our modern concerns. It’s no surprise that Elon Musk, such a looming figure on the global stage, would be of fascination to this director. His nearly four hour examination of the highly controversial man is sure to raise many an eyebrow. It’s a life that has already been well researched by many others, but Gibney’s talents always find ways to craft an engaging commentary through his expressive filmmaking. The massive runtime is still daunting, and one wonders if that’s a cause for concern in regards to broader appeal. However, there’s no denying that a new project from this director is one that immediately has our curiosity as we all wait to see if any new information will be revealed about a man who has already done so much to surprise and shock the world.
–Josh Parham
NAZA, dir. Yuval Abraham & Rachel Szor
Witnessing the incredible response to “No Other Land” two years ago was quite a significant moment. An incredibly important film documenting the struggles that Palestinians face against Israeli colonizers was a powerful statement, and the Oscar it won for Best Documentary Feature was a victory not just for those filmmakers but for the political statement that needed to be heard. It automatically makes any follow-up from this creative team worth seeing, and “NAZA” predictably has a large amount of attention on it. This effort does not have the previous film’s two Palestinian directors, but Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor have still chosen to focus on the rampant killing of the country’s citizens at the hands of Israeli forces. This is sure to be another controversial effort, but could be another searing indictment that takes hold in our current culture. This year’s festival already has a number of high profile documentaries, and the late announcement of this title to the lineup made that collection even more noteworthy. The world braces itself for another tragic yet necessary exploration of a great injustice being committed on a massive scale.
–Josh Parham
Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People?, dir. Shinya Tsukamoto
Shinya Tsukamoto’s “Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People?” appears to be one of the more emotional watches that the Venice Film Festival will produce. Adapted from a true story, the film follows Allen Nelson, a young man looking to escape discrimination and poverty, who serves on the frontlines of the Vietnam War. Like thousands of other soldiers, the experience changed Nelson’s life forever. Rodney Hicks leads the project, which could be a huge standout moment for the actor who has mainly worked in television and theater in his career. Either way, I’m preparing for a brutal, bracing, and emotional watch – there’s always at least one during a festival!
–Ema Sasic
No Paradise If You Are Killed by a Woman, dir. Halkawt Mustafa
Norwegian Kurdish film director Halkawt Mustafa takes on a story of love and resilience in “No Paradise If You Are Killed by a Woman.” The film follows Kurdish female sniper Vyan (played by Avan Jamal) on a mission to find her little sister, who was taken against her will during the 2014 Islamic State assault on Mosul. This is another anticipated tough watch, especially as women across the Middle East continue to protest against systemic oppression. But I won’t lie, I love the sound of a female sniper taking down a group whose ideology includes taking away women’s freedoms. Jamal appears to have a loaded role on her hands, balancing physical demands with the emotional toll her character has endured in the years she’s tried to find her sister. This will be one to watch.
–Ema Sasic
Place to Be, dir. Kornél Mundruczó
How’s this for a hodgepodge cast: Ellen Burstyn, Taika Waititi, Pamela Anderson, Murray Bartlett, and David Wenham. That’s who is taking on Kornél Mundruczó’s light-hearted road movie “Place to Be,” which is about an unexpected friendship between an elderly woman and a middle-aged man going on an adventure to return a lost racing pigeon. It sounds very wacky, not only from the premise but also from imagining this cast hanging out together, but there’s also potential for this to be quite charming. While Waititi’s films are certainly polarizing, he brings a chaotic and fun energy when he’s acting on the screen, and it’ll be quite something to see that matched with Oscar-winner Burstyn, who can truly do it all.
–Ema Sasic
Possible Love, dir. Lee Chang-dong
It’s been eight long years since Lee Chang-dong’s last film “Burning,” a powerfully rendered meditation that continues to linger today. The masterful storyteller has been absent for far too long, which is why his return is incredibly appealing. His focus on intimate character studies with a deep examination of internalized conflicts are mesmerizing to discover, and there’s little doubt that he will once again indulge in a captivating narrative. Few directors are able to create a portrait of complex human connectivity quite like him, and any lover of cinema has to be excited for what he has in store. Apart from that, it has been noted how much South Korean cinema has struggled with getting proper recognition from the Academy, and all eyes are on this film to see if such a long-running rejection might finally turn a corner.
–Josh Parham
Primetime, dir. Lance Oppenheim
Robert Pattinson putting on a voice in a film? I am so seated. He has come a long way since his “Twilight” days, and anyone who doesn’t think he’s one of today’s very best working actors only has to look at the incredible 2026 he has had. He gave us a wild dramedy with “The Drama,” he came alive as the entitled Antinous in “The Odyssey,” and now he’s giving us “Primetime,” in which he takes on the role of “To Catch a Predator” host Chris Hansen. He has become one of those chameleon actors who can seemingly do it all, and it will be really interesting to see him take on such a recognizable and notorious figure as this. The trailer gave us a snippet of what to expect, and just hearing him say “I’m Chris Hansen, with Dateline NBC” was enough to get me totally on board. Powerhouse performer Merritt Wever is also in the cast, and I can’t wait to see what she does.
–Ema Sasic
The Spiral (L’estranea), dir. Paolo Strippoli
There are sinister vibes brewing with “The Spiral,” which make me eager to see it. Horror director Paolo Strippoli sets the film in the middle of a family’s life changing, all thanks to mother Anna revealing a major secret to her daughter. What that secret is, and what follows, is a mystery, but Strippoli clued us in with his director’s statement that this is a story about control, desperation, and the possibilities that come with a choice. It all sounds enticing and has the potential to be full-blown chaos, which is always a blast to see on the big screen.
–Ema Sasic
Wild Horse Nine, dir. Martin McDonagh
At this point, Martin McDonagh as become one of the most notable directors working today. Despite a limited amount of features to his name, nearly all of them attract critical and commercial acclaim. Every new endeavor from him is one that must be anticipated, and “Wild Horse Nine” is no exception. The film has been building buzz for months at this point, and it’s hard to argue against the pedigree. McDonagh once again finds himself in the world of dubious morals, which is a commentary he is quite adept at exploring in compelling ways. A fantastic ensemble that includes exceptional actors like John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi and Parker Posey make this perhaps the highest profile entry in the entire festival. Time will tell if this is the surefire player in the upcoming awards season many believe it to be, and it’s exciting that the first unveiling is almost upon us.
–Josh Parham
What do you think of our list? Which films are you most excited to see from the Venice International Film Festival? Please let us know in the comments section below or on Next Best Picture’s X account, and check out our latest Oscar predictions here.
