 |
| ▲ This AFP=Yonhap News Agency photo shows the Golden Lion with wings, a symbol of the Venice International Film Festival. |
ROME, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- The Venice International Film Festival, considered the world's oldest film festival, will start on Wednesday on the Lido, a barrier island in the Venetian Lagoon, and run until Sept. 11 (local time).
This year's 78th Venice International Film Festival will showcase a total of 92 works from 56 countries.
For the Venezia 78 Competition category, which determines the winner of the Golden Lion award, a total of 21 feature-length films were nominated.
The opening film will be "Parallel Mothers," directed by Spanish master director Pedro Almodóvar.
Films such as "Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon," starring Korean actress Jeon Jong-seo, and "Spencer," which unravels a story about Princess Diana.
Director Jane Campion, who gained fame with the movie "The Piano," will be able to screen her latest film "The Power of the Dog," while Italian film director Paolo Sorrentino's "The Hand of God" is also included in the category.
This year, Korean films were not included as the nominees of the film competition category.
 |
| ▲ In this AFP=Yonhap News Agency photo, shows the logo for the 78th Venice International Film Festival. |
However, director Bong Joon-ho, who rose as the master director with the movie "Parasite," became the head of the jury and received the spotlight in the global film industry. The selection of the Golden Lion award winner is also lies in his hands.
Director Bong received applause at the Cannes Film Festival in France in July for announcing the opening of the festival by performing alongside American director Spike Lee, actress Jodie Foster and director Almodóvar.
Filmmaker Chloé Zhao, who won the Golden Lion award last year for the film "Nomadland," will visit Venice again as a member of the jury.
Hollywood stars such as Penélope Cruz, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon will appear on the red carpet and is expected to catch the eyes of many movie fans around the world.
 |
| ▲ This AFP=Yonhap News Agency photo shows the event taken place in Venice Lido. |
Italian director and actor Roberto Benigni, who is well known to Korean movie fans for his film "Life Is Beautiful," will be awarded the "Golden Lion Honorary Award."
Strict social distancing rules will be applied throughout the festival this year, just like last year.
Participants at the film festival, including the audience, must have a "green pass" that can be issued only when one is vaccinated or tested negative, and must wear a mask indoors without exception.
In addition, the number of audiences in each theater will be limited to less than 50 percent of the capacity.
Organizers will also set up more than 10 coronavirus inspection centers in Venice Lido so that festival attendees can be inspected whenever necessary.
(END)
(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved
