Title: Venice Film Festival Opens with Modest Star Power Due to SAG-AFTRA Strike
Subtitle: Alternate universe envisions Zendaya’s triumph at the cancelled opening of the 80th Venice Film Festival
Date: [Insert Date]
Venice, Italy – The 80th annual Venice Film Festival kicked off with a sense of subdued excitement as the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike in Hollywood resulted in a lack of star power at the opening night. While the absence of big-name celebrities was keenly felt, the festival still showcased an array of gripping films and honored Italian auteur Liliana Cavani with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.
The festival was originally slated to open with Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers,” featuring breakout star Zendaya, but due to labor issues, the film’s release was postponed until 2024. Instead, the opening film was “Comandante,” a World War II drama by Edoardo De Angelis, which received a brief 90-second standing ovation.
The absence of star power was evident as the crowds outside the Sala Grande Theatre were modest in size. Previously, appearances by the likes of Lady Gaga and Timothee Chalamet would cause a frenzy among fans. However, director Damien Chazelle, who presides over the Venice jury, was warmly received by the audience, and jury member Jane Campion engaged with fans, signing autographs and taking selfies.
During the festival’s first press conference, Chazelle and fellow jury member Martin McDonagh expressed their support for the ongoing writers’ and actors’ strikes in Hollywood. The labor issues, though affecting promotional efforts, did not dampen the spirits of festival organizers. Alberto Barbera, the chief of Venice Film Festival, assured that a smattering of U.S. star power would still be present, with Adam Driver, Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi, and Jessica Chastain expected to attend various events throughout the festival.
The highlight of the opening ceremony was the presentation of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement to renowned Italian filmmaker Liliana Cavani. Charlotte Rampling, the iconic actress who worked with Cavani in the groundbreaking film “The Night Porter,” delivered an impassioned speech, praising Cavani’s ability to confront the beautiful, the ugly, and the unresolved through her body of work. Cavani, in her acceptance speech, highlighted the need for greater visibility and opportunities for women in the film industry.
At 90 years old, Cavani is also presenting her latest film, “The Order of Time,” at the festival. The movie, which explores the concept of time based on the book by Italian physicist Carlo Rovelli, will be screened out-of-competition.
Another standout of the opening day was Italian actor Pierfrancesco Favino, who portrayed the heroic naval commander Salvatore Todaro in “Comandante.” The film tells the true story of Todaro, who sank a Belgian merchant ship during World War II and defied orders to rescue its crew members, becoming a role model for Italy’s coast guard.
The Venice Film Festival will continue until September 9th, providing a platform for established directors and emerging talent to showcase their work, despite the challenges posed by labor strikes in the entertainment industry.