Venice Film Festival 2020: 18 films in the running for the Golden Lion, including 8 directed by women

“Nomadland”, by Chinese-American director Chloé Zhao, in the running for the 2020 Golden Lion. © The Venice Film Festival 2020

Text by: Siegfried Forster Follow

5 mins

The 77th edition of the oldest international film festival opens, this Wednesday, September 2, a new chapter in its history.

And we are not talking about the constraints related to Covid-19.

Because among the eighteen films in the official competition, eight are directed by women.

Never seen.

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Since the establishment of the Venice Film Festival in 1932, only four women have won the Golden Lion.

In 1981, Germany's Margarethe von Trotta won the coveted trophy with

.

Four years later, the French Agnès Varda became, with

second winner of the highest distinction of the Mostra.

Since then, the Indian Mira Nair and the American Sofia Coppola have also conquered the top of the Mostra with

, in 2001, and

, in 2010.  

This year, many are talking about a very special Mostra and explain the important presence of female directors by the absence of

Hollywood

and Netflix blockbusters.

On the other hand, few observers take note of the opportunity created by this vacuum on the superstars side which leaves more room for innovative films, far from the methods often castigated by the behemoths, and perhaps more in line with the upheavals of our current world.   

The theory of vacuum

Indeed, even if the Venice festival promises to be very special, much more than the Mostra, it is the world around that has changed: from the #MeToo movement to the Covid-19 pandemic, including accents increasingly threatening digital giants and the ecological crisis.

What if this - more than the theory of the void - explained the strong push of women in the world of cinema?

Do the directors offer cinematographic scenarios more in tune with the tremors of our certainties?

This is one of the many reasons why it is important to follow this year's selection very closely.

From this point of view, the 77th edition of the festival will undoubtedly go down in history.

First, two Golden Lions will be awarded to two women: Hong Kongese Ann Hui and Briton Tilda Swinton for their film careers.

And the jury for the official competition will be chaired by a woman, Australian-American actress Cate Blanchett.

To top it off, discover, in pictures, the eight films directed by women and in the running for the 2020 Golden Lion which will be awarded on September 12.

The eight films by female directors in the running for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival 2020

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