The Venice Film Festival, running Aug. 27 – Sept. 6, 2025, is once again poised to serve as a launchpad for Oscar hopefuls. In past years, titles like Birdman (2014), Spotlight (2015), The Shape of Water (2017), and Nomadland (2020) all premiered on the Lido before going on to win Best Picture at the Oscars. This year’s lineup features an impressive roster of acclaimed directors, Hollywood stars, and major studios vying for awards-season glory.
Netflix’s Big Bet: Jay Kelly
Noah Baumbach, who premiered Marriage Story at Venice in 2019, returns with Jay Kelly, starring George Clooney as an aging Hollywood star and Adam Sandler as his longtime manager. With its fall release, Netflix backing, and Oscar-winning creative team, the film is already generating buzz — particularly for Sandler’s dramatic supporting role, which some critics predict could be a career-defining moment.
Lanthimos and Stone Reunite for Bugonia
Following their success with The Favourite and Poor Things, Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone reunite for Bugonia, a surreal dark comedy about conspiracy-obsessed men who kidnap a CEO they believe is an alien plotting Earth’s destruction. Stone, who has already won two Oscars with Lanthimos-directed performances, is expected to be a major contender again.
Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein
Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water) premieres his highly anticipated Frankenstein, starring Jacob Elordi. Del Toro’s Venice history — winning the Golden Lion in 2017 — makes this one of the festival’s most watched premieres.
Kathryn Bigelow Returns With Netflix Drama
Kathryn Bigelow, the first woman to win the Best Director Oscar for The Hurt Locker, returns with A House of Dynamite, starring Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, and Greta Lee. Debuting out of competition via Netflix, it could still emerge as a key player in awards conversations.
Star-Studded After the Hunt
Premiering Aug. 29, Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt stars Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, and Ayo Edebiri. Roberts, who won an Oscar for Erin Brockovich, is said to be delivering one of her strongest performances in years, possibly reentering the Best Actress race.
Dwayne Johnson in A24’s The Smashing Machine
In a surprising turn, Dwayne Johnson aims for dramatic recognition in The Smashing Machine, playing MMA fighter Mark Kerr opposite Emily Blunt. Directed by Benny Safdie, the A24 project will premiere Sept. 1 and could be Johnson’s first serious awards vehicle.
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Other Major Titles
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The Testament to Ann Lee – Amanda Seyfried as the Shakers’ founding leader
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Father Mother Sister Brother – directed by Jim Jarmusch, starring Adam Driver, Cate Blanchett, Charlotte Rampling, Vicky Krieps, and Mayim Bialik
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Marc by Sofia – documentary by Sofia Coppola about designer Marc Jacobs
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Megadoc – by Mike Figgis, chronicling the making of Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis
With premieres from Baumbach, Lanthimos, del Toro, and Bigelow, alongside performances by Clooney, Stone, Roberts, Blunt, and Johnson, the Venice Film Festival 2025 is set to ignite the Oscar race. As history shows, what plays on the Lido often carries momentum straight into Hollywood’s biggest night.
