This fall, three major film festivals – Venice, Telluride, and Toronto – will kick off, offering a launchpad for some of the most highly anticipated titles of the year. The Venice Film Festival, which begins on Wednesday, boasts an impressive lineup featuring star-studded vehicles such as Julia Roberts’ drama “After the Hunt” and Emma Stone’s new film from Yorgos Lanthimos.
Notable directorial debuts include Kathryn Bigelow’s nuclear-weapon thriller “A House of Dynamite” and Guillermo del Toro’s take on “Frankenstein.” The festivals also stack their lineups with proven Oscar winners, including Chloe Zhao’s drama about William Shakespeare’s wife from “Nomadland.”
The fall season seems to be rebounding after a quiet summer, but which films will get the most attention? Hollywood’s post-strike doldrums seem to be over, as major studios are back in production. However, some big-name films have skipped festivals entirely.
Venice has secured several high-profile titles, including George Clooney and Adam Sandler’s “Jay Kelly” and Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt’s “The Smashing Machine.” The Toronto festival boasts a strong lineup of star vehicles, including Brendan Fraser in “Rental Family,” Channing Tatum in “Roofman,” and Sydney Sweeney in “Christy.”
As the fall awards season gets underway, which films will emerge as contenders for Oscars? Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” was initially expected to debut at Venice but has now scheduled its release. Meanwhile, Bradley Cooper’s directorial efforts have skipped festivals, instead premiering at the New York Film Festival.
Some big-name sequels and Timothée Chalamet vehicles will skip the fall festivals altogether. With three major festivals competing for attention, which films will get the recognition they deserve?
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/movies/venice-film-festival-what-to-watch.html