Summer 2018 is beginning to wind down, which means that Oscar season is right around the corner. The Venice Film Festival will once again be the kick-off to the annual race, serving as the launching pad for a number of outstanding contenders. Other festivals are busy gearing up for the announcement of their respective slates- the New York Film Festival announced Alfonso Cuaron's Roma as its centerpiece earlier today, while TIFF will reveal their first wave of titles of July 24. Still, all eyes are on Venice as the organizers reveal what's in store for their prestigious event, specifically the opening night film. Last year, it was the disappointing Downsizing, but previous openers have included La La Land and Birdman. So yeah, kinda important.
Hours ago, we finally learned what film will serve as the opener for the festival. According to Variety's Kristopher Tapley, Damien Chazelle's First Man will open the 75th edition of the Venice Film Festival. With a cast led by Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Kyle Chandler, and Corey Stoll, the biopic of astronaut Neil Armstrong is Chazelle's first movie since 2016's La La Land, which won 6 Oscars before losing Best Picture to Moonlight in a snafu for the ages. There were multiple titles rumored for this crucial opening slot, including the aforementioned Roma, Orson Welles' The Other Side of the Wind, and Yorgos Lanthimos' The Favourite. But it all comes back to Chazelle, who launched one of the most contentious Oscar seasons in history in 2016 with the premiere of his lavish movie musical at Venice.
Considering how this all usually shakes out, First Man is likely to also play at Toronto and Telluride, followed by appearances at other smaller festivals. The biopic will open nationwide on October 12, which means that Chazelle will spend less time on the festival circuit in comparison to his campaign for La La Land (that film opened in December).
Simply put, this is a thrilling choice for the Venice opener. First Man is my most anticipated film for the rest of the year, and this is a great sign of confidence from Universal. As someone who loved both Whiplash and La La Land, Chazelle is quickly becoming one of my favorite filmmakers. It'll be another long year for Chazelle if First Man goes to distance, but this should be a terrific kick-off to the latest Oscar season.
Look for more festival news in the coming days.
Images: Universal/IMDb
Hours ago, we finally learned what film will serve as the opener for the festival. According to Variety's Kristopher Tapley, Damien Chazelle's First Man will open the 75th edition of the Venice Film Festival. With a cast led by Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Kyle Chandler, and Corey Stoll, the biopic of astronaut Neil Armstrong is Chazelle's first movie since 2016's La La Land, which won 6 Oscars before losing Best Picture to Moonlight in a snafu for the ages. There were multiple titles rumored for this crucial opening slot, including the aforementioned Roma, Orson Welles' The Other Side of the Wind, and Yorgos Lanthimos' The Favourite. But it all comes back to Chazelle, who launched one of the most contentious Oscar seasons in history in 2016 with the premiere of his lavish movie musical at Venice.
Considering how this all usually shakes out, First Man is likely to also play at Toronto and Telluride, followed by appearances at other smaller festivals. The biopic will open nationwide on October 12, which means that Chazelle will spend less time on the festival circuit in comparison to his campaign for La La Land (that film opened in December).
Simply put, this is a thrilling choice for the Venice opener. First Man is my most anticipated film for the rest of the year, and this is a great sign of confidence from Universal. As someone who loved both Whiplash and La La Land, Chazelle is quickly becoming one of my favorite filmmakers. It'll be another long year for Chazelle if First Man goes to distance, but this should be a terrific kick-off to the latest Oscar season.
Look for more festival news in the coming days.
Images: Universal/IMDb
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