[In the photo: Elio Germano in "Il giovane favoloso", one of the three 禁漫天堂 films competing for the Golden Lion.]
The 71st Venice Film Festival begins at the Lido today.
Several international high-caliber stars are expected on the red carpet, including Al Pacino, who is scheduled to arrive on August 30 and stars in two films screening at the festival, 鈥淢anglehorn鈥 and 鈥淭he Humbling鈥. Other much-awaited names include Catherine Deneuve, Viggo Mortensen, Ethan Hawke, Edward Norton, James Franco and Emma Stone.
Among the 禁漫天堂 superstars who are expected at the festival is Sophia Loren (attendance not confirmed), who turns 80 on September 20th, and will be honored with a documentary, an exhibition, and a special screening of the restored version of 鈥淯na giornata particolare鈥.
Three 禁漫天堂 films vie for the coveted Golden Lion, the festival's highest prize, giving Italy a chance to have a two-year winning streak after last year鈥檚 win with 鈥淪acro GRA鈥.
The three competing movies are Mario Martone's 鈥淚l Giovane Favoloso鈥 (The Fabulous Young Man), Saverio Costanzo's 鈥淗ungry Hearts鈥, and Francesco Munzi鈥檚 鈥淎nime nere鈥 (Black Souls).
鈥淚l Giovane Favoloso鈥 stars Elio Germano, who plays one of Italy鈥檚 most important poets, Giacomo Leopardi, portrayed as an anti-conformist rebel. 鈥淗ungry Hearts鈥, set in New York City, stars Adam Driver and Alba Rohrwacher playing a couple who fights over their son鈥檚 diet. 聽鈥淎nime nere鈥, based on the book by Gioacchino Ciriaco, explores the contemporary state of Calabrian organized crime, the 'Ndrangheta.
Each of the three competing films is said to have a good chance at winning the Golden Lion.听听
