Venice Film Festival 2025 Unveils Restored Classics from Kubrick, Almodóvar, Kieslowski & More
The Venice Film Festival has revealed the line-up of 18 newly restored films that will be showcased in its Venice Classics section during the upcoming 82nd edition. This prestigious sidebar continues to spotlight cinematic masterpieces that have been meticulously restored to preserve film heritage.
Among the American highlights is Delmer Daves’ 1957 western 3:10 to Yuma, based on Elmore Leonard’s short story and famously remade in 2007 by James Mangold. Other notable U.S. selections include Stanley Kubrick’s 1962 adaptation of Lolita, Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s House of Strangers starring Edward G. Robinson, and the Jerry Lewis comedy The Delicate Delinquent.
The European lineup features a rich tapestry of iconic cinema. Pedro Almodóvar’s Matador, Krzysztof Kieslowski’s Blind Chance, and Marcel Carné’s film noir Le Quai des brumes (1938) represent key moments in Spanish, Polish, and French film history. Also included is Manoel de Oliveira’s debut film Aniki-Bóbó and the Italian neorealist classic Rome 11:00 by Giuseppe De Santis.
Italy also presents the restored horror film The Ghost by Riccardo Freda (credited as Robert Hampton), and two comedies: The Magnificent Cuckold and I Married You for Fun, the latter featuring two previously censored sequences now reintegrated thanks to Cinecittà’s restoration efforts.
The Asian selection includes several culturally significant works such as Kon Ichikawa’s Odd Obsession (Japan), Masaki Kobayashi’s Kaidan in an uncut version never released before, and Tsai Ming-Liang’s Vive l’amour, which won the Golden Lion in 1994.
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Another standout is India’s Do Bigha Zamin by Bimal Roy, restored by the Film Heritage Foundation and The Criterion Collection, representing one of India’s most important contributions to social realist cinema.
Venice Film Festival Artistic Director Alberto Barbera emphasized that Venice Classics continues to pursue “openness and rediscovery,” celebrating both renowned masterpieces and underrecognized gems. The section not only serves as a tribute to film history but also aims to bring lost or censored cinematic moments back to the screen.
The jury for Venice Classics 2025 will be chaired by director Tommaso Santambrogio and composed of 24 film students recommended by Italian university professors. The jury will award two prizes: Best Restored Film and Best Documentary About Cinema.
