On Wednesday, August 31, the 79th Venice Film Festival kicks off and runs until September 10.

This year the show turns 90 years old.

The screening will open with a tragicomedy from the White Noise competition program directed by Noah Baumbach (Frances Sweet, De Palma, A Marriage Story), starring Adam Driver (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The House of Gucci ").  

White Noise is based on the satirical novel of the same name by Don DeLillo.

In the center of the plot is a history teacher Jack, who specializes in the study of Adolf Hitler.

The life of the protagonist and his family is filled with many fears, the main of which is the fear of death.

This year's jury is headed by actress Julianne Moore.

Together with her, such directors as Mariano Cohn, Audrey Diwan, Rodrigo Sorogoyen, Leonardo Di Costanzo, as well as writer Kazuo Ishiguro and actress Leila Hatami will evaluate films.

  • © Shot from the film "Son"

This year's festival organizers have set themselves the goal of raising awareness and promoting international cinema in all its forms as an art, entertainment and industry. 

Thus, one out-of-competition section will be devoted to retrospectives, as a mark of respect for prominent figures and for a better understanding of the history of cinema, in particular, by young audiences.

23 paintings were selected for the main competition.

Director Andrew Dominik will show the film "Blonde" - a biopic about the life of the famous actress Marilyn Monroe, played by Ana de Armas ("Knives Out").

Also, Darren Aronofsky will bring his new tape "The Whale" to the competition.

The project was based on Samuel D. Hunter's play of the same name about an unhealthy overweight man (Brendan Fraser) who is trying to mend his relationship with his 17-year-old daughter.

Film adaptation of his play "Son" (2019) will be shown by director, playwright and writer from France Florian Zeller.

The plot focuses on a teenager with deviant behavior who is struggling with the divorce of his parents (Laura Dern and Hugh Jackman).

Anthony Hopkins also joined the cast.

In addition, the horror drama “Entirely and Completely” by the Italian director Luca Guadagnino with Timati Chalamet, who previously worked with the cinematographer in the film “Call Me by Your Name”, is nominated for the Golden Lion this season.

The film is based on the novel by Camilla De Angelis about the cannibal Maren (Taylor Russell), who is able to eat everyone who is in love with her.

  • © Shot from the film "Entirely and completely"

The list of contestants also includes a new work by Martin McDonagh (“Low Down in Bruges”) “The Banshee of Inisherina” starring Colin Farrell, a painting by Joanna Hogg “The Eternal Daughter” with Tilda Swinton, “Saint-Omer” by Alice Diop, “ The Ant Lord” by Gianni Amelio, the nostalgic comedy “Bardo” by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, the action movie “Athena” directed by Romain Gavras, “Private Life” by the Japanese director Koji Fukada, “Argentina, 1985” by Santiago Miter, the Iranian film “Behind the Wall” by Vahid Jalilvand, Italian-Belgian painting "Chiara" by Susanna Nicchiarelli, "Monica" by Andrea Pallaoro.

In addition, among the participants of the competition are Todd Field's film "Tar" with Cate Blanchett, the melodrama "Without Bears" by Jafar Panahi, the film by Laura Poitras "All Beauty and Bloodshed", the Italian drama "Immensity" by Emanuele Crialese with Penelope Cruz and Vincenzo Amato,

The New Horizons competition program will feature nine films, including the film Goliath by Kazakh director and screenwriter Adilkhan Yerzhanov.

The action in the film takes place in the fictional village of Karatas, where the criminal authority Poshaev, played by Daniyar Alshinov, rules.

He executes the wife of a poor man, Arzu (Berik Aitzhanov).

After that, Poshaev's guards begin to look after Arzu, but he does not even think about revenge.

In the past, the director has already participated in the Venice Film Festival - in 2020, his film "Yellow Cat" was presented in the "Horizons" section.

“Goliath explores the nature of power and the nature of submission.

The idea of ​​revenge, which at first glance is impossible, the story of the confrontation between a big man and a small one - they have been floating around for a long time.

I was looking for their reflection in the plot, over the course of two years the script was rewritten several times.

The film has a very thin line between art and genre, there is a risk that this balance will not be perceived, but there is also hope that it will be appreciated, ”said director Adilkhan Yerzhanov.

The honorary award for achievements in cinematography at the 79th festival will go to Paul Schroeder, screenwriter of such films as Taxi Driver, The Shepherd's Diary, The Last Temptation of Christ, Raging Bull, Cold Calculation and others.

Outside the competition, viewers will be able to see several premieres.

Thus, the guests of the film festival will be shown the psychological thriller Don’t Worry, Sunshine, the second feature film by actress and director Olivia Wilde, Walter Hill’s western Dying for a Dollar, Ty West’s slasher film Pearl.

The program of the show also includes the third part of Lars von Thier's series Kingdom, which takes place in a hospital in Denmark.

Russian tapes will not be shown at the 79th show.

The organizers of the Biennale, as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine, banned official Russian delegations from participating.

The Venice Film Festival will end on September 10 with the awards ceremony.