Venice Film Festival Selects 2025's Best Films — Here's Who's Competing for the Prize

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21 films, each one gunning for gold. Among the contenders are cult directors Paolo Sorrentino, Guillermo del Toro, Yorgos Lanthimos, Jim Jarmusch, plus actor Dwayne Johnson in an MMA fighter drama.

Here's who's making history at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, running August 27 through September 6.
Actor Oscar Isaac in a vest, actress Emma Stone in a blazer, actor Dwayne Johnson in MMA gloves
Stills and posters from "Frankenstein," "Bugonia," and "The Smashing Machine"
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"The Smashing Machine," dir. Benny Safdie

Dwayne Johnson takes on MMA fighter Mark Kerr. Sport, pain, addiction, and fame collide.

"La Grazia," dir. Paolo Sorrentino

Festival opener. A love story set against Italy's natural beauty, starring Tony Servillo, Sorrentino's go-to leading man.

"The Wizard of the Kremlin," dir. Olivier Assayas

Based on Giuliano da Empoli's novel. Paul Dano plays Putin's PR man, while Jude Law embodies Putin himself. Set in 90s Russia, where a former TV producer becomes one of the country's most powerful figures.

"Jay Kelly," dir. Noah Baumbach

Plot details are under wraps, but the director promises an "emotional comedy about adults growing up." Adam Sandler leads the cast.

"The Voice of Hind Rajab," dir. Kaouther Ben Hania

The story of a five-year-old Gaza girl killed in shelling. One of the festival's heaviest and most politically charged films.

"A House of Dynamite," dir. Kathryn Bigelow

Real-time thriller. White House under threat, political crisis unfolding. Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson anchor the cast.

"Sun Rises on Us All," dir. Cai Shangjun

Former lovers face each other again. A film about pain, regret, and the weight of the past, starring Songwen Zhang and Shaofeng Feng.

"Frankenstein," dir. Guillermo del Toro

Mary Shelley's classic gets the del Toro treatment. Victor Frankenstein meets his created monster. Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, and Jacob Elordi star.

"Elisa," dir. Leonardo di Costanzo

Detective Alaoui (Roschdy Zem) tries to understand a woman who served 10 years for killing her sister. Miriam Ronchi plays Elisa.

"A pied d'oeuvre," dir. Valérie Donzelli

A photographer abandons her career for writing. She finds inspiration—and poverty. Bastien Bouillon takes the lead.

"Silent Friend," dir. Ildikó Enyedi

Three eras, one tree, and a hundred years of solitude. Light magical realism with Léa Seydoux in a key role.

"The Testament of Ann Lee," dir. Mona Fastvold

Amanda Seyfried plays the founder of the Shaker sect in 18th-century America. A story of faith and power.

"Father Mother Sister Brother," dir. Jim Jarmusch

Three family stories across three cities—New York, Paris, and Dublin. Features Cate Blanchett and Vicky Krieps.

"Bugonia," dir. Yorgos Lanthimos

Psychological thriller meets sci-fi. Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons face off against—possibly—an alien businessman.

"Duse," dir. Pietro Marcello

Valeria Bruni Tedeschi embodies legendary actress Eleonora Duse in her post-war return to the stage.

"Un film fatto per Bene," dir. Franco Maresco

Documentary portrait of theater, film, and stage legend Carmelo Bene.

"Orphan," dir. László Nemes

A boy discovers the truth about his mother's wartime survival. Set after Hungary's 1956 uprising.

"L'Étranger," dir. François Ozon

Camus adaptation. Benjamin Voisin plays Meursault, who kills a man shortly after his mother's funeral. Detachment as society's challenge.

"No Other Choice," dir. Park Chan-wook

An unemployed man decides to eliminate his competition. Based on the novel "The Hatchet." Lee Byung-hun stars.

"Sotto Le Nuvole," dir. Gianfranco Rosi

Black-and-white documentary about life between Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples. Seismic activity, human stories, silence.

"Girl," dir. Shu Qi

Directorial debut from Taiwanese actress Shu Qi. Roy Chiu takes the lead role. Earlier, we at zoomboola.com covered how the Emmy Awards selected the year's 5 best miniseries.