Venice Film Festival 2012: Films worth looking out for

Like a stimulant to film fanatics, the much anticipated Venice Film Festival returns next week for its 69^th instalment – and we will be there reporting for you.

On 29^th August for eleven days, bringing the best of film-making talent together in celebration at the oldest international film festival in the world, VFF will showcase upcoming films much to the excitement of the rest of the watching world.

Running at the end of the summer, between August and early September, screenings will take place as customary in the historic Palazzo del Cinema of the Lido di Venezia.

The VFF’s primary award is the Golden Lion (Leone d’Oro) which is given to the best film screened in the festival’s competition.  The Silver Lion (Leone d’Argento) goes to the best director, and the Volpi Cups (Volpi) are awarded to best actors and actresses. 

This year it has already been announced that the Golden Lion of Achievement award will go to Italian film director, Francesco Rosi. Famous for his embedded political messages within his films, particularly around 1960-1970, Rosi receives this award to celebrate his influence.

This year, the jury will be chaired by American film director Michael Mann. Director of visual masterpieces such as Collateral, Manhunter, Heat and Miami Vice, Mann studied cinema in London back in the 60s and has been described as “a total film-maker”.  His job as chair of the jury will be to decide the recipients of the festivals top prizes, including the Golden Lion.

Films to look out for:

The Master – Paul Thomas Anderson

Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, and Amy Adams, The Master is a story of a naval WW2 veteran repatriating to America, unsettled and unsure of his future, until he is enticed by The Cause, and its compelling leader. PT Anderson is the director of Magnolia, Boogie Nights and There Will Be Blood: a world-beater

Spring Breakers – Harmony Korine

Clad only in bikinis, four sexy college girls find themselves wound up in front of a judge after being arrested for drug charges.  Not quite what they had in mind when they were only going to burgle a fast-food outlet to fund their spring break, the girls are bailed out by a notorious local thug, Alien.  Starring James Franco, Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson and Heather Morris, Spring Breakers will take you on one wild spring break trip!

To The Wonder – Terrence Malik

Exploring existential questions and love in its many forms, To The Wonder stars Ben Affleck, Olga Kurylenko and Rachel McAdams.  A story of a couple and the problems that arise after a visit to the Wonder in France, Le Mont Saint-Michel.

Pieta – Ki-Duk Kim

Loan shark and alone, Pieta is the story of a man who, after years of having nothing to lose as a man threatening people in a brutal fashion, suddenly has everything to lose when a woman, claiming to be his mother, turns up.   After accepting her back into his life, the woman is then kidnapped, plunging the man into the challenge of tracking down all those he hurt in the past – after all, he assumes it is one of them seeking revenge.  However, the truth uncovers horrifying dark secrets better left unrevealed.  Starring Cho Min-soo and Lee Jung-jin.

Jennifer Atkinson