Venice Film Festival 2025 Unveils Star-Packed Lineup Featuring Julia Roberts, The Rock, Emma Stone & More
The 2025 edition of the Venice International Film Festival is shaping up to be one of the most star-studded in recent memory. Organizers announced a dazzling lineup on Tuesday that includes films featuring Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Emma Stone, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, all set to compete for the coveted Golden Lion award.
The 82nd annual festival will take place from August 27 to September 6 on the historic Lido di Venezia, opening with Paolo Sorrentino’s much-anticipated film La Grazia — a spiritual follow-up to The Great Beauty, according to Screen Daily.
Major Hollywood Powerhouses Join the Competition
A total of 21 films are in the official competition, and they represent a diverse mix of genres, nations, and themes. Among the most talked-about entries:
- Julia Roberts stars in The Last Portrait, a psychological drama set in post-war Europe.
- George Clooney returns with Salt of the Earth, a political thriller shot in the Balkans.
- Emma Stone leads Mother of Storms, a surrealist adaptation of the 1990s climate fiction novel.
- Dwayne Johnson’s much-hyped film The Smashing Machine — where he plays troubled MMA legend Mark Kerr — will also premiere at Venice, as confirmed by WrestleTalk.
The festival’s jury will be chaired by Alexander Payne, a two-time Academy Award winner, known for films like Sideways and The Descendants, per La Biennale’s official site.
Global Talent & Local Vision
In addition to Hollywood’s brightest stars, the festival has carved out room for rising international voices:
- Luca Guadagnino, the Italian auteur behind Call Me by Your Name, returns with Éterna.
- Guillermo del Toro will showcase The Hollow Ones, a gothic horror tale set in colonial Mexico.
- Yorgos Lanthimos is back with another surreal dark comedy, The Eden Accord.
The full list of selected films also includes works from directors like Noah Baumbach, Kathryn Bigelow, and Gus Van Sant, making this one of the most diverse Venice slates in years.
Opening Film: Paolo Sorrentino’s “La Grazia”
Venice will officially open with Sorrentino’s La Grazia — a spiritual journey tale set in Naples, promising the filmmaker’s signature cinematic beauty and introspective tone. The Italian filmmaker last premiered The Hand of God at Venice in 2021, which later earned an Oscar nomination.
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Spotlight on U.S. Films: Big Names, Big Stakes
A noticeable trend this year is the strong presence of American films, with festival director Alberto Barbera noting that “U.S. auteurs are helping shape this year’s cinematic conversation,” as highlighted in The Upcoming.
With the likes of Wes Anderson, Chloé Zhao, and Jordan Peele absent from this year’s Cannes and Toronto festivals, many insiders are calling Venice 2025 “Hollywood’s biggest fall preview.”
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How to Watch or Attend
The Venice Film Festival is not open to the general public, but selected screenings and press conferences are often livestreamed via La Biennale’s official YouTube channel and participating outlets like IMDb and ABC News.
Film buffs and fans of celebrity fashion can also follow daily red carpet coverage via Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok using the hashtag #Venezia82.
Are you planning to stream any of the films premiering at Venice this fall? Which stars are you most excited to see walk the red carpet? Let us know your thoughts on upcoming releases and festival buzz in the comments on ChicagoMusicGuide.com!