10 of the Biggest Releases Heading to the Venice Film Festival

For weeks now, a cloud has loomed over the Lido as the countdown to the Venice Film Festival—due to run from August 30 to September 9—continues: namely, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes which have brought productions and promotional tours across the globe to a grinding halt as negotiations for a fair deal continue with stubborn producers and studio heads. Shortly after the industrial action began, the previously announced opening film of the showcase’s 80th edition, Luca Guadagnino’s hotly anticipated Challengers, starring Zendaya and Josh O’Connor, was pulled and its release date moved to 2024. It fueled rumors that a flurry of other Hollywood blockbusters could follow suit, transforming Venice, one of the industry’s most effective launchpads for Oscar contenders, into a “pan-European festival.”

But somehow, against the odds, the festival has defied its doubters, delivering a jam-packed and formidable line-up that combines European arthouse releases with big-budget awards hopefuls. There were some notable absences (many had hoped to see both Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn and Ridley Scott’s Napoleon included) and a couple of head-scratchers (new films from Woody Allen, Roman Polanski, and Luc Besson), and questions remain as to how many stars will receive waivers allowing them to attend, but Venice will go on, largely unchanged from its previous iterations. However, the strike will, rightly, remain at the forefront of attendees’ minds.

Below, we shortlist the 10 films you need to look out for.