The Venice Film Festival has long stood as one of cinema’s most distinguished gatherings. Since its founding in 1932, it has remained a defining space for premieres and international exchange. This year, the 82nd edition welcomed filmmakers and actors from across the world, with Alexander Payne, director of The Holdovers, Election and Sideways, leading the jury.
The program unfolded as a reflection of modern cinema’s diverse spirit. Yorgos Lanthimos presented the provocative Bugonia, Noah Baumbach returned with the sharply observed Jay Kelly, and Luca Guadagnino introduced After the Hunt, a drama as intimate as it is unsettling. Alongside them, Guillermo del Toro’s reimagined Frankenstein and Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine captured the festival’s restless energy. Adding further dimension were new works by Park Chan-wook, Paolo Sorrentino and Vladlena Sandu, each shaping the dialogue of this year’s Venice with a distinct voice.
TheDiary’s review from the 2025 Venice Film Festival:
After the Hunt
Italian director Luca Guadagnino returns with a drama set against the backdrop of a university, exploring the tensions around sexual misconduct allegations. Julia Roberts takes the lead role as a professor facing conflicts between her career and personal life.
Jay Kelly
One of the festival’s most talked-about premieres, Jay Kelly dives into Hollywood itself. George Clooney plays a character wrestling with fame and the demands of his profession. Directed by Noah Baumbach, known for Marriage Story and Frances Ha, the film cements his role as a key voice in contemporary American cinema.
No Other Choice
Park Chan-wook, the Korean auteur behind Oldboy, The Handmaiden and Decision to Leave, presents a dark comedy of murder and irony. With its satirical edge, No Other Choice stands out as one of the competition’s most anticipated entries.
At Work
French filmmaker Valérie Donzelli, celebrated for Declaration of War and Marguerite & Julien, unveils At Work, a drama about a writer navigating both personal struggles and the challenges of the modern gig economy.
La Grazia
The festival opened with Paolo Sorrentino’s latest work, La Grazia. Centered on the President of Italy, played by Toni Servillo, the film departs from the director’s signature grandeur to offer a quieter, more restrained narrative.
Cover-Up
Laura Poitras introduces a new documentary on Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh. Tracing his career and groundbreaking investigations, the film reflects on the enduring role of journalism in shaping public history—a subject of special resonance for TheDiary.
Bugonia
Yorgos Lanthimos once again captures the spotlight with Bugonia, featuring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons. The thriller tells a gripping story of abduction while mirroring societal tensions of the present day. Following its Venice premiere, the film received six minutes of standing ovations.
Orphan
Hungarian director László Nemes, known for Son of Saul, returns with Orphan, set during the Soviet occupation of the 1950s. The story delves into childhood trauma and family secrets against a historical backdrop.
Memory
Ukrainian filmmaker Vladlena Sandu offers one of the festival’s most personal works. Memory reflects on the experience of war, portraying how trauma is preserved and passed down through generations.
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