Venice Film Festival: Beetlejuice's Spectacular Return
Prepare for an exhilarating cinematic adventure as the 81st Venice Film Festival kicks off! This year's lineup includes the long-awaited sequel to the infamous horror-comedy, "Beetlejuice" - "Beetlejuice 2: Beetlejuice's Back." Fans of the original '88 release can anticipate sightings of Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O'Hara on the stellar red carpet.
Joining the crew once more is director Tim Burton and emerging talent, Jenna Ortega, known for her dominant role in "Wednesday" series. Keaton brings back his iconic portrayal of the rowdy specter, sparking frustration in Ryder's Lydia Deetz as he once again disrupts her life.
Competing for the highly coveted Golden Lion award, a total of 21 films are up for grabs. Among these, Todd Phillips' new installation of "Joker," entitled "Joker: Madness Duet", starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, is a noteworthy contender. In 2019, the first installment clinched the top prize in Venice.
Additionally, celebrities such as Angelina Jolie in "Maria" by Pablo Larraín, and an ensemble cast led by Daniel Craig in "Queer" by Luca Guadagnino make their way to the competition. Guadagnino's film also stars Nicole Kidman in the much-awaited "Babygirl".
Deciding the fate of the Golden Lion is a nine-member jury, led by French actress Isabelle Huppert, accompanied by German director Julia von Heinz. Out of competition, "Horizon" part two, Kevin Costner's Western epic, and "Wolfs", an action comedy by Jon Watts, featuring Brad Pitt and George Clooney, will also be screened.
Celebrating German Collaborations
This year, Germany contributes seventeen collaborative productions across various festival sections. Among these, Andres Veiel's "Riefenstahl" documentary will be screened outside competition. Sandra Maischberger, who with Veiel spent years extensively researching Leni Riefenstahl's archive, produced the film on the iconic Nazi propaganda filmmaker, infamous for her works like "Triumph of the Will".
Leonie Benesch grabs attention in a leading role in Swiss director Tim Fehlbaum's film, "September 5", offering an inside look at the Munich Olympics hostage crisis from a TV crew's perspective. On a different note, American actress Sigourney Weaver, lauded for her performances in the "Alien" series, will receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.
In recognition of her ability to blend the finest art-house cinema with crowd-pleasers while maintaining her personal integrity, festival director Alberto Barbera commends Weaver. The European Union provides funding for several collaborative productions showcased at the Venice Film Festival, such as Andres Veiel's documentary "Riefenstahl".
Stay tuned for more captivating stories and updates from the 2024 Venice Film Festival. Don't miss important articles such as "Caught up in the present: the end of "The Crown", "Could a girl play every role despite her age not fitting the part?", "Through New Year's Eve with TV shows", and "What's next for the series hits?".
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