Venice Film Festival kicks off, highlights real issues

The 76th edition of the Venice International Film Festival kicked off with Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda's mother-daughter drama, "The Truth," starring Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche. The 11-day festival began on August 28 and will end by September 7. The event will showcase 21 films from directors all around the world, who have narrated different types of stories through their direction.

The festival is taking place at Venice Lido and is organized by La Biennale di Venezia. It is officially recognized by FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Association). The eleven-day journey opened with "The Truth," which Venice chief Alberto Barbera called "a poetic reflection on the relationship between a mother and her daughter, and the complex profession of acting."

Thursday is lined up with James Grey's "Ad Astra" from Fox. In this movie, we will see Brad Pitt as an astronaut who is out on a mission to protect the solar system. The same day, we will see the couple conflict drama of Netflix titled "Marriage Story" starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson.

Benedict Andrews' "Breathless," starring Jean Seberg, will be screened on Friday. Warner Bros.' "Joker" will be screened on Saturday. The festival Chief Alberto Barbera believes that it is a straight entry for the Oscars.

Alberto Barbera knows that there will be criticism about gender disparity in this event as there are only two female directors in the competition. Variety reported him saying, "When I hear about other festivals boasting a 45% percentage of films by women directors, I am forced to wonder what their selection criteria are." He also added that other festivals select the work of female filmmakers that they pass on.

The Venice Film Festival is also being criticised by Cannes Chief Thierry Fremaux for being obsessed with Hollywood. Despite this, the Venice Film Festival remains to be one of the most reputed film festivals all over the world.