This year’s Venice Film Festival will include Kristen Stewart in a sci-fi romance, a war story with Idris Elba and a thriller starring Tilda Swinton and Dakota Johnson.
Organizers announced a 21-strong competition lineup Wednesday that includes Drake Doremus’ futuristic “Equals,” with Stewart and Nicholas Hoult; Luca Guadagnino’s “A Bigger Splash,” with Swinton, Johnson and Ralph Fiennes; and Cary Fukunaga’s African-set war story “Beasts of No Nation,” starring Elba.
Competition for the Golden Lion also includes Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson’s animated feature “Anomalisa”; musician Laurie Anderson’s “Heart of a Dog”; and “The Danish Girl” from “The King’s Speech” director Tom Hooper.
The 72nd Venice festival opens Sept. 2 with the world premiere of Baltasar Kormakur’s mountain drama “Everest,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Robin Wright. It runs to Sept. 12.