A star-studded celebration of global cinema, the Venice Film Festival returns to the enchanting Lido island in the City of Canals this year. Taking place from August 28 to September 7, 2024, the 81st edition promises an unforgettable experience, with highly anticipated films including Todd Phillips' Joker: Folie à Deux and Pablo Larraín's Maria competing for the Golden Lion.
While no Arab films have been selected for the Festival's main competition this year, the region is still making its mark with two films having earned spots in other esteemed categories. Tunisian filmmaker Mehdi Barsaoui’s Aicha will be featured in the Orizzonti category dedicated to highlighting new trends in international cinema. Aicha tells the captivating story of Aya, a woman in her late twenties, who is stuck in an underwhelming life until she witnesses a police accident that changes everything. The storyline grapples with interesting themes of internal conflict that are guaranteed to keep the viewer glued to the screen. With his first feature film, A Son, granting Sami Bouajila the Best Actor award in 2019, the Tunisian filmmaker returns to the festival hoping to secure another win.
Seeking Haven For Mr. Rambo by Egyptian director Khaled Mansour will have its world premiere in the Orizzonti Extra section. Developed through the Red Sea Lodge programme in 2021 and supported by the Red Sea Fund, the film will finally debut after eight years of production.The tale follows the life of Hassan, a man in his thirties, who is on a quest to save his dog Rambo from an unknown fate. Seeking Haven For Mr. Rambo is the first Egyptian film to screen at the festival in 12 years, making it a much-awaited comeback by the Egyptian film fraternity.
Aside from the regional films premiering at the festival, the jury will comprise of two Arab filmmakers, Mauritanian director Abderrahmane Sissako and Syrian filmmaker, Soudade Kaadan.
Sissako, best known for his film Timbuktu which secured an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film, is a director from the region who is well-known for exploring socio-political themes in his films. Kaadan, on the other hand, shot to fame after winning the Lion of the Future Award for Best Debut Film for her movie The Day I Lost My Shadow. The two renowned directors will be jurors at the film festival this year, Sissako as part of the Main Competition jury and Kaadan for the Orizzonti category.
With a packed calendar of screenings, guaranteed celebrity sightings and long-awaited films, there is plenty to look forward to at this year's Venice Film Festival. Stay tuned! Learn more
Sissako, best known for his film Timbuktu which secured an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film, is a director from the region who is well-known for exploring socio-political themes in his films. Kaadan, on the other hand, shot to fame after winning the Lion of the Future Award for Best Debut Film for her movie The Day I Lost My Shadow. The two renowned directors will be jurors at the film festival this year, Sissako as part of the Main Competition jury and Kaadan for the Orizzonti category.
With a packed calendar of screenings, guaranteed celebrity sightings and long-awaited films, there is plenty to look forward to at this year's Venice Film Festival. Stay tuned! Learn more
With a packed calendar of screenings, guaranteed celebrity sightings and long-awaited films, there is plenty to look forward to at this year's Venice Film Festival. Stay tuned! Learn more
