Venice Film Festival cuts number of entries, adds movie market, focuses on auteur-heavy lineup

VENICE, Italy – The Venice Film Festival is getting more exclusive.

Festival director Alberto Barbera trimmed the number of movies premiering at the world’s oldest film festival to include just 18 competition entries vying for the top Golden Lion prize.

The lineup is heavy on auteur favourites like Terrence Malick, who premieres “To The Wonder” on Sunday and Paul Thomas Anderson, who travels to the Lido with “The Master.” Both are coups for Barbera, who returned this year to the festival he directed from 1998-2002.

In recent years, as many as 24 films competed with well over 100 screening in side events. Barbera says the trimmed selection allows better promotion of the films. He also launched the festival’s first market to give them a commercial push.

The festival begins Wednesday and runs until Sept. 8.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.