Festivals

Alongside the big-screen debuts of 22 feature-length films (and 14 short films) at the 78th Venice Film Festival, television also had its presence felt with the premiere of HBO’s five-part limited series, Scenes from a Marriage. The project is a modern adaptation of the 1973 Swedish series by six-time Golden Globe winner Ingmar Bergman, with Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac in the lead roles.

Ever since Edgar Wright (Baby Driver, Shaun of the Dead) moved to London 25 years ago, he candidly admits, he’s had a conflicted relationship with the British capital. The Poole, Dorset, native spent more time hanging out in the Soho district than he did on any of the couches in his home; so, making a film about the renowned London neighborhood almost became inescapable to him.

On Sunday September 5th, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) announced the  winners of its fourth annual  Residency Program. At the reception Alberto Barbera, artistic director of the Venice International Film Festival joined members of the HFPA delegation in celebrating the four young film makers which will participate in the program which has partnered the HFPA with the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals in an effort to mentor young artists from around the world.

When Elena Ferrante gave Maggie Gyllenhaal the rights to adapt her 2006 novel The Lost Daughter, she had one stipulation in the contract. If the Golden Globe-winning actress didn’t direct, then the agreement would be null and void.

After Oscar Isaac graduated from Juilliard in 2005, he headed west to California where one of his first auditions was for acclaimed filmmaker Paul Schrader. Although the then 26-year-old actor booked the part, the film never got made.

When Penélope Cruz walked out of the cinema after viewing the film Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down, the then 16-year-old knew immediately that not only did she want to become an actress, but she wanted to work with director Pedro Almodóvar. Thirty years later, the Oscar-winning actress has gotten her wish for the eighth time as she presents their latest collaboration, Madres Paralelas (Parallel Mothers), at the Venice Film Festival.