Known as the oldest Film Festival of all time, Venice, the 75th show this year comes along with lots of controversies surrounding its lineup with less films directed by women. Last year, the festival received critics from its patrons over its one film out of 21 in its competition lineup directed by a woman. Many were expectant that this year will be different and include more films by women, but no such thing happened per the official lineup.
In defense of the selection of films this year, Venice President, Alberto Barbera insisted that it is not the festival’s job to change the industry. The 75th Venice Film Festival competition will once again feature only one film out of 21 directed by women.
Barbera disclosed, “Putting another film in the main competition just because it’s made by a woman, from my point of view, that would be really offensive for the director. I would prefer to change my job if I would be forced to select a film only because it’s made by a woman and not on the basis of the quality of the film itself”.
Barbera said in his statement that this year he watched 1,500 film submissions with about a third of them coming from female directors and according to him his job is only dependent on deciding if it’s a good film or not and if it’s a film better than another one.
Despite the fact that this year’s Venice will feature films tipped as Oscar contenders such as, A Star is Born, which stars, Lady Gaga alongside Bradley Cooper, Neil Armstrong biopic, starring Ryan Gosling, which will open the festival on August 29, and more. The 75th show in its lineup has still ruled-out some of the many significant films that have had early award buzz.
One of the biggest disappointments this year will be the absence of If Beale Street Could Talk, Berry Jenkin’s follow up to his Oscar- winning ‘Moonlight’. Another literary adaptation getting a lot of pre-awards buzz, Joel Edgerton’s ‘Boy Erased’ won’t be in Venice this year either. The film stars Lady Bird’s, Lucas Hedges. Beautiful Boy, the English language debut of Belgian director, Felix Van Groeningen was also tipped to premier in Venice but it too is not on the current list. The film stars Oscar’s nominee young actor, Timothee Chalamet and Steve Carell.
The Film Festival is also set to screen six Netflix originals this year, a record for the Italian event, whiles Cannes boycotted the streaming giant, the world’s oldest film festival will screen Netflix’s; Roma, 22 July, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, The other Side of the Wind and Netflix documentary, They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead, directed by Morgan Neville.
Six-time Oscar nominee, Vanessa Redgrave will be honored with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. Redgrave expressed her gratitude for the honorary saying,
“I am astonished and especially delighted to hear that I will be awarded by the Venice Film Festival for a life’s work in film. Last summer I was filming in Venice in The Aspern Papers. Many many years ago, I filmed La Vacanza in the marshes of the Veneto. My character spoke every word in the Venician dialect. I bet I am the only non-Italian actress to act an entire role in Venetian dialect! Thank you a million, dear festival”.
