RTL Group is proud to celebrate Fremantle’s remarkable presence at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, with six standout titles premiering across the official selection – including the prestigious Opening Night Film.

Leading the line-up is Paolo Sorrentino’s La Grazia, which will debut in competition and open the festival on the Lido. Starring longtime collaborator Toni Servillo, the film is produced by The Apartment (a Fremantle company), alongside Sorrentino’s own production company Numero 10 and Piper Film Productions. 

In 2021, The Hand of God, directed by Paolo Sorrentino and starring Toni Servillo, premiered at the 78th Venice Film Festival, later receiving an Oscar nomination. 

“Paolo Sorrentino’s return in competition comes with a film destined to leave its mark for its great originality and powerful relevance to the present time, which the audiences will have the pleasure of discovering on opening night.”  – Alberto Barbera, Director of the 82^nd Venice International Film Festival

Also in competition is Bugonia, a highly anticipated sci-fi dark comedy starring Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias and Alicia Silverstone, which was co-produced by Element Pictures (a Fremantle company), Square Peg and CJ ENM Entertainment Division.

Father Mother Sister Brother, a new feature by iconic filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, will also compete for the Golden Lion. Featuring a star-studded cast including Cate Blanchett, Mayim Bialik, Adam Driver, Charlotte Rampling, Indya Moore, Luka Sabbat and Tom Waits, the film is co-produced by The Apartment, Mubi, Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, Badjetlag and CG Cinema.

In the Orizzonti section, The Kidnapping of Arabella by Carolina Cavalli adds further depth to Fremantle’s showing, with Benedetta Porcaroli and Chris Pine in lead roles. The film is produced by The Apartment and Elsinore Film.

Beyond film, Fremantle’s narrative ambition continues with Il Mostro (The Monster of Venice), premiering out of competition in the series category. This limited series is also produced by The Apartment and AlterEgo.

Rounding out the selection is Portobello, a co-production between The Apartment, Our Films, Kavac Film, Arte France Cinéma and Rai Fiction, underscoring Fremantle’s strength in building global creative partnerships.

A look back: Fremantle in Venice 2024  

Last year, Fremantle made a significant mark at the 81st Venice Film Festival, with Maria and Queer earning enthusiastic audience acclaim, April receiving the Special Jury Prize, and Don’t Cry, Butterfly triumphing with both the Grand Prize and the Verona Film Club Award for ‘Most Innovative Film’. 

Congratulations to all the creative teams behind these works – and to our colleagues across the Fremantle family!  

More about: Festival sections 

At the Venice Film Festival, films are showcased across distinct programme categories:

• In competition: Films selected to compete for the festival’s highest honours, including the Golden Lion (‘Best Film’), Silver Lion (‘Best Director’), and Volpi Cups (‘Best Actor/Actress’). This is the most prestigious section. 

• Orizzonti: Literally ‘horizons’, this competitive section focuses on new trends and innovative storytelling from emerging or boundary-pushing filmmakers. 

• Out of competition: High-profile works chosen to screen at the festival but not competing for prizes – often major premieres or special showcases, including series. 

• Critics’ Week (Settimana Internazionale della Critica): An independent section run by the National Union of Italian Film Critics focusing on first-time directors. Films here compete for a separate set of awards, such as the Grand Prize and the Verona Film Club Award for ‘Most Innovative Film’.