The 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival kicked off with a bang on Wednesday, with the highly anticipated arrival of Hollywood’s elite. Until September 7, stars and cinephiles from around the world converge on the Lido to celebrate cinema. The festival’s opening was marked by the out-of-competition presentation of Tim Burton‘s latest opus: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. This film, which will be released in France on September 11, marks the return of the famous wacky exorcist stuck in the afterlife, once again played by Michael Keaton, now 72 years old.
Thirty-six years after the cult success of the first installment, Tim Burton takes the reins again to bring this unforgettable character back to life. Alongside Michael Keaton, former kleptomaniac Winona Ryder reprises her role as Lydia, the goth teenager who talked to the dead, now an adult. Catherine O’Hara also returns as Lydia’s mother. New faces join this adventure: the great Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci – who has been sharing Burton’s life for a few months – and Jenna Ortega, star of the series Wednesday.
The Venice red carpet is not lacking in sparkle. Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Brad Pitt, and George Clooney are expected to walk the famous steps facing the Adriatic. Lady Gaga, starring in the new Joker, is also among the guests of honor. On the French side, the illustrious actress Isabelle Huppert presides over the feature film competition jury, while Claude Lelouch, guest of honor, will present Finally, his 51st film. Three French films are in competition this year: Their Children After Them, based on the 2018 Goncourt Prize by Nicolas Mathieu; Playing with Fire with Vincent Lindon; and Three Friends by Emmanuel Mouret.
However, this edition is not only marked by glamour. Laura Morante, a recognized Italian actress, used her presence on the red carpet to display a message. Brandishing a fan with the inscription "Stop the Gaza genocide," she wanted to remind everyone that the reality of war remains present, even in the splendor of Venice. Tahar Ben Jelloun, a Moroccan writer invited in a parallel selection by the Giornate degli autori, also denounced this situation… This edition of the Mostra thus has participants who are sensitive to global issues while continuing to celebrate cinema in all its splendor.
The Mostra, the world’s oldest film festival, has managed to stay in tune with the times despite recent upheavals. The revolution of streaming platforms has not spared the event. Neither has the Covid-19 pandemic. Similarly, last year’s writers’ strike had an impact. But the festival has adapted. Unlike Cannes, it quickly opened its doors to competition for platform productions.
Among the striking images of this edition, Isabelle Huppert captured attention in a surprising outfit. The 71-year-old actress sported a flamboyant red tracksuit and a tourist cap. She also carried a coffee cup as a bag. All these pieces are from Balenciaga’s pre-fall 2024 collection. Thus, she defied red carpet conventions. With her black "Ski Cat" sunglasses, she perfectly embodied the "tourist-core" style while remaining one of the iconic faces of French cinema. Balenciaga, which announced this collaboration with Huppert on July 31, 2023, could not have dreamed of a better ambassador to present its new bag "The Bel Air."
This edition of the Mostra promises to be rich in events, between tributes, commitments, and celebrations of the seventh art. The festival continues to show that cinema remains a reflection of the concerns and passions of our time. Even in moments of celebration, this remains true.