Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Challengers’ to Open the Venice Film Festival

Oscar season is coming soon, and we now have our opening film for the Venice Film Festival, signaling the start of the fall festival season.

The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Luca Guadagnino‘s Challengers will be the festival’s opening film, with a script written by Justin Kuritzkes. Starring Josh O’Connor, Zendaya, and Mike Faist, the movie will open in Venice on August 30 before it releases in theatres on September 15.

In a statement, Guadagnino expressed his excitement and said, “I am so thrilled for audiences to experience my new film Challengers at the Venice Film Festival. It’s a modern bold story of youthful energy, love and power. Zendaya, Josh and Mike are totally original and fresh, bringing a new energy like you’ve never seen before. I can’t wait for the Lido audience to dance across the notes of the soundtrack of Trent and Atticus at the opening night of the 80th edition of the Mostra. As a filmmaker, it is a dream come true and I am grateful to Alberto and the whole Venice family for this wonderful recognition for the film.”

Venice Film Festival Artistic Director Alberto Barbera added to Guadagnino’s statement, saying, “Luca Guadagnino is one of the few Italian directors who has always been accustomed to working with both Italian and foreign actresses and actors, getting top results from all of them each time. Even when he is filming abroad as is the case with Challengers. With a light hand and sporting self-confidence, Guadagnino sets no limits to his creative energy in this film as he deals with topics such as love, friendship and male rivalry, and brings to life an enthralling and affecting movie, full of irony, sensuality and good nature. Cinema in its purest form.”

The 80th edition of the Venice International Film Festival will run from August 30 to September 9.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter