David Farnor | On 26, Jul 2023

Netflix is heading to Venice in a big way this year, with five movies set to debut at the film festival.

The event has long been a favourite of the streamer to launch its awards contenders, partly thanks to tensions with Cannes around theatrical release windows in France. This year, tensions are of a different kind across Hollywood, as writers and actors are striking to secure fairer pay deals, not only in the face of the streaming landscape and its impact upon how residuals work, but also in the rise of AI as a potential tool for Hollywood to generate someone’s likeness or generate scripts via machine learning.

Nonetheless, even with actors potentially not appearing at the typically star-studded festival due to the strikes, as Hollywood pauses and studios consider pushing back release dates, Netflix is taking the opportunity to launch its film slate – giving it a boost in profile at a time when its facing financial headwind, digital competition and audience frustration.

The line-up includes new films from Pablo Larraín, Wes Anderson, Bradley Cooper, David Fincher, and JA Bayona. The festival itself runs from 30th August to 9th September.

Here’s the rundown:

El Conde

The story revolves around Augusto Pinochet who is not dead but an aged vampire who, after 250 years in this world, has decided to die once and for all, due to ailments brought about by his dishonor and family conflicts.

Cast: Jaime Vadell, Gloria Münchmeyer, Alfredo Castro, Paula Luchsinger / Director: Pablo Larraín

Read our review

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (short)

A rich man learns about a guru who can see without using his eyes. He sets out to master the skill in order to cheat at gambling. Extremely faithfully adapted from Roald Dahl’s long short story.

Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel, Sir Ben Kingsley, Richard Ayoade
Director: Wes Anderson

Maestro

Maestro is a towering and fearless love story chronicling the lifelong relationship between Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein. A love letter to life and art, Maestro at its core is an emotionally epic portrayal of family and love.

Cast: Carey Mulligan, Bradley Cooper, Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, Sarah Silverman, Josh Hamilton, Scott Ellis, Sam Nivola, Alexa Swinton, Miriam Shor
Director: Bradley Cooper

The Killer

After a fateful near miss, an assassin battles his employers, and himself, on an international manhunt he insists isn’t personal.

Cast: Michael Fassbender, Arliss Howard, Charles Parnell, Gabriel Polanco, Kerry O’Malley, Emiliano Pernía, Sala Baker, Sophie Charlotte, Tilda Swinton
Director: David Fincher

Release date: 10th November

Society of the Snow

In 1972, Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, which had been chartered to fly a rugby team to Chile, crashed in the heart of the Andes. Only 29 of its 45 passengers survived the accident. Trapped in one of the most hostile and inaccessible environments on the planet, they have to resort to extreme measures to stay alive.

Cast: Enzo Vogrincic, Matías Recalt, Agustín Pardella, Esteban Kukuriczka, Tomas Wolf
Director: JA Bayona

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Netflix Venice Film Festival