The 82nd Venice International Film Festival opens on August 27, 2025, and runs through September 6 on the Lido di Venezia. Organized by La Biennale di Venezia, the festival is the world’s oldest and among the most prestigious, blending red-carpet glamour with premieres, tributes, and bold experiments.
Cinema in Transition
Festival director Alberto Barbera reminds audiences of cinema’s power to both fascinate and unsettle. He cites Jacques Rivette: “Cinema necessarily fascinates and violates.” Barbera notes the tension between streaming dominance and the vitality of theaters. His message is clear: “So if cinema is dead, then long live cinema.”
This year’s edition highlights cinema’s resilience and diversity. Films arrive from thirty nations, showcasing established auteurs and emerging voices.
Opening and Competition Highlights
The festival opens with Paolo Sorrentino’s La Grazia, starring Toni Servillo. The Venezia 82 Competition includes some of the year’s most anticipated films:
- Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein with Oscar Isaac and Christoph Waltz
- Kathryn Bigelow’s A House of Dynamite with Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson
- Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother featuring Tom Waits and Cate Blanchett
- Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia, reuniting him with Emma Stone
- Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice
- Franco Maresco’s documentary Un film fatto per bene
The Golden Lion will be awarded to the best film in this competition.
View the complete festival program here.
Out of Competition and Special Screenings
The Out of Competition section brings works from master directors. Highlights include Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt with Julia Roberts, Julian Schnabel’s In the Hand of Dante, Gus Van Sant’s Prince of Lies, and Mamoru Hosoda’s anime The Future Is a Memory. Werner Herzog, celebrated this year with a Lifetime Achievement Golden Lion, also screens his latest feature.
Orizzonti and Venice Spotlight
The Orizzonti section highlights global trends. It opens with Mother by Teona Strugar Mitevska, starring Noomi Rapace. Italian voices include Carolina Cavalli’s Il Rapimento di Arabella. Films from Mexico, Thailand, and beyond underline the section’s international scope.
Venice Spotlight showcases socially engaged cinema. Titles include Shahad Ameen’s Hijra, Stephan Komandarev’s Made in EU, and Daniele Vicari’s Ammazzare stanca.
Biennale College Cinema
Four micro-budget projects developed through the Biennale College Cinema program will premiere. Among them are Agnus Dei by Massimiliano Camaiti and One Woman One Bra, a Kenyan-Nigerian co-production. These films highlight the future of independent cinema.
Venice Classics and Restorations
Film heritage remains central. Venice Classics presents restored masterpieces including Stanley Kubrick’s Lolita, Giuseppe De Santis’ Roma ore 11, Krzysztof Kieslowski’s Blind Chance, and Masaki Kobayashi’s Kwaidan. These restorations remind audiences that cinema’s past continues to inspire.
Venice Immersive
On Venice Immersive Island, thirty projects explore virtual and extended reality. The line-up includes Doug Liman’s Asteroid and Caroline Poggi and Jonathan Vinel’s The Exploding Girl VR. These works push cinema beyond the screen, offering multisensory storytelling.
Pre-Opening and Closing Nights
The festival begins with a double pre-opening. Restored screenings of Erich von Stroheim’s Queen Kelly (1929) and other silent works set the tone.
Closing night features the awards ceremony and the final competition screening. The Golden Lion, Silver Lion, and other prizes will be presented by the international juries.
Juries and Awards
The main competition jury includes filmmakers, actors, and writers from across the globe. Separate juries will award prizes in Orizzonti, Venice Immersive, Venice Classics, and the Luigi De Laurentiis Award for a debut feature.
Special honors include the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement awarded to Werner Herzog and Kim Novak. Cartier continues its Glory to the Filmmaker Award, recognizing originality and vision. Armani Beauty will again present the Audience Award – Venice Spotlight.
Venice Production Bridge and Industry Events
Beyond screenings, the Venice Production Bridge brings together producers, distributors, and financiers. Key events include the Gap Financing Market, Book Adaptation Rights Market, and Meet the Streamers. These meetings connect ideas with resources, reinforcing Venice’s role in shaping global cinema.
Dailies and Press
Festival coverage is amplified through daily publications. Italian magazine Ciak and Venezia News publish the official Dailies, while Variety produces Venice Digital Daily in print and online. Together, they offer interviews, reviews, and insights into the festival’s atmosphere.
Biennale Cinema Channel
For the fourteenth year, the Sala Web Theatre brings Venice to global audiences. A selection of Orizzonti short films and Biennale College features stream online. Viewers can access them through Festival Scope and MYmovies.it platforms.
Tickets and Access
Tickets range from €10 to €50 depending on venue and time. Concessions are available for under-26s, over-65s, and Biennale Card holders. Subscriptions offer dedicated seats, though many are already sold out.
Most screenings are public, though some remain reserved for accredited guests. Children under six are not admitted. Formal attire is recommended for gala evenings in the Sala Grande.
Getting to the Lido
The festival takes place on the Lido di Venezia. It is accessible by vaporetto from Venice’s Santa Lucia station, by ferry for cars, or by Alilaguna boat from Marco Polo Airport. Stops include Lido Santa Maria Elisabetta and Lido Casinò.
Sponsors and Partners
The festival is supported by major sponsors including Campari, Armani Beauty, Cartier, and Mastercard. Lexus provides official cars, while ITA Airways debuts as the official airline. The Consorzio di Tutela of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG ensures celebratory toasts. RAI serves as official broadcaster, while brands like De’Longhi and Intimissimi host activations.
A Celebration of Cinema
The 82nd Venice International Film Festival reaffirms cinema’s power to challenge, inspire, and unite. From Sorrentino’s Italian opener to global debuts and VR frontiers, Venice offers a stage where tradition meets innovation.
For full ticketing and festival details, visit the official site of La Biennale di Venezia.
