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When is Venice Film Festival 2023 and What Can We Expect?

Emma Stone's Frankenstein-like 'Poor Things' premiers in Venice but she will be absent amid the strike by Hollywood actors and writers. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Emma Stone's Frankenstein-like 'Poor Things' premiers in Venice but she will be absent amid the strike by Hollywood actors and writers. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
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When is Venice Film Festival 2023 and What Can We Expect?

Emma Stone's Frankenstein-like 'Poor Things' premiers in Venice but she will be absent amid the strike by Hollywood actors and writers. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Emma Stone's Frankenstein-like 'Poor Things' premiers in Venice but she will be absent amid the strike by Hollywood actors and writers. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest film festival in the world, with its 80th edition opening this week.
Below are some facts about the festival and the 2023 contenders.
WHEN IS THE VENICE FESTIVAL?
The festival opens on Aug. 30 with the premiere of Italian World War Two film "Comandante", directed by Edoardo De Angelis. The event runs until Sept. 9 and closes with a Spanish-language Netflix drama "Society of the Snow".
WHERE IS IT HELD?
The Festival takes place on the Venice Lido - the so-called beach of Venice -- a thin barrier island in the Venetian Lagoon, which is a short boat trip from the main city of Venice. Unlike Venice itself, cars have access to the Lido.
WHY IS IT SO CLOSELY WATCHED?
The festival marks the start of the awards season and regularly throws up big favorites for the Oscars. Eight of the past 11 best director awards at the Oscars went to films that debuted at Venice.
Movie stars and directors traditionally enjoy traveling to the lagoon city to launch their films. However, this year will offer a bit less sparkle than usual because a Hollywood actors' strike will prevent many stars from promoting their work here.
WHAT MOVIES HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR THE FESTIVAL?
There are several categories making up the official selection of films shown, the top being those competing for the coveted Golden Lion award.
This year's 23 contenders, in order of their screening, are:
"Comandante" (Italy) Director: Edoardo De Angelis
"El Conde" (Chile) Dir: Pablo Larrain
"Dogman" (Fr) Dir: Luc Besson
"Ferrari" (US) Dir: Michael Mann
"The Promised Land" (Denmark) Dir: Nikolaj Arcel
"Poor Things" (UK) Dir: Yorgos Lanthimos
"Finally Dawn" (It) Dir: Saverio Costanzo
"Maestro" (US) Dir: Bradley Cooper
"Adagio" (It) Dir: Stefano Sollima
"Die Theorie Von Allem" (Ger-Austria-Switz) Dir: Timm Kroger
"The Killer" (US) Dir: David Fincher
"The Beast" (Fr-Canada) Dir: Bertrand Bonello
"Evil Does Not Exist" (Jap) Dir: Ryusuke Hamaguchi
"Priscilla" (US-It) Dir: Sofia Coppola
"Green Border" (Czech-Pol-Bel-France) Dir: Agnieszka Holland
"Enea" (It): Dir. Pietro Castellitto
"Origin" (US) Dir: Ava DuVernay
"Me Captain" (It-Bel) Dir: Matteo Garrone
"Lubo" (It-Switz) Dir: Giorgio Diritti
"Holly" (Bel-Neth-Lux-Fr) Dir: Fien Troch
"Woman Of" (Pol-Swe) Dir: Malgorzata Szumowska, Michal Englert
"Memory" (Mex-US) Dir: Michel Franco
"Hors-Saison" (Fr) Dir: Stephane Brize
ARE ANY BIG FILMS BEING SHOWN OUT OF COMPETITION?
Like other festivals, Venice reserves a number of spots for interesting movies that are shown out of competition. Amongst those on offer this year are "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial" by US director William Friedkin, who died this month; "Coup de Chance", Woody Allen's first French-language picture; "The Palace", by Roman Polanski; "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar", a short feature by Wes Anderson; "Aggro Dr1ft", directed by Harmony Korine and starring rapper Travis Scott.

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Inflation Rose to 2.3% in Europe. That Won't Stop the Central Bank from Cutting Interest Rates

A view shows the Bercy Economy and Finance Ministry as a metro operated by the Paris transport network RATP passes over the Pont de Bercy bridge in Paris, France, November 28, 2024. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq
A view shows the Bercy Economy and Finance Ministry as a metro operated by the Paris transport network RATP passes over the Pont de Bercy bridge in Paris, France, November 28, 2024. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq
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Inflation Rose to 2.3% in Europe. That Won't Stop the Central Bank from Cutting Interest Rates

A view shows the Bercy Economy and Finance Ministry as a metro operated by the Paris transport network RATP passes over the Pont de Bercy bridge in Paris, France, November 28, 2024. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq
A view shows the Bercy Economy and Finance Ministry as a metro operated by the Paris transport network RATP passes over the Pont de Bercy bridge in Paris, France, November 28, 2024. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq

Inflation in the 20 countries that use the euro currency rose in November — but that likely won’t stop the European Central Bank from cutting interest rates as the prospect of new US tariffs from the incoming Trump administration adds to the gloom over weak growth.
The European Union’s harmonized index of consumer prices stood up 2.3% in the year to November, up from 2.0% in October, the EU statistics agency Eurostat reported Friday.
Energy prices fell 1.9% from a year ago, but that was offset by price increases of 3.9% in the services sector, a broad category including haircuts, medical treatment, hotels and restaurants, and sports and entertainment, The Associated Press reported.
Inflation has come down a long way from the peak of 10.6% in October 2022 as the ECB quickly raised rates to cool off price rises. It then started cutting them in June as worries about growth came into sharper focus.
High central bank benchmark rates combat inflation by influencing borrowing costs throughout the economy. Higher rates make buying things on credit — whether a car, a house or a new factory — more expensive and thus reduce demand for goods and take pressure off prices. However, higher rates can also dampen growth.
Growth worries got new emphasis after surveys of purchasing managers compiled by S&P Global showed the eurozone economy was contracting in October. On top of that come concerns about how US trade policy under incoming President Donald Trump, including possible new tariffs, or import taxes on imported goods, might affect Europe’s export-dependent economy. Trump takes office Jan. 20.
The eurozone’s economic output is expected to grow 0.8% for all of this year and 1.3% next year, according to the European Commission’s most recent forecast.
All that has meant the discussion about the Dec. 12 ECB meeting has focused not on whether the Frankfurt-based bank’s rate council will cut rates, but by how much. Market discussion has included the possibility of a larger than usual half-point cut in the benchmark rate, currently 3.25%.
Inflation in Germany, the eurozone’s largest economy, held steady at 2.4%. That “will strengthen opposition against a 50 basis point cut,” said Carsten Brzeski, global chief of macro at ING bank, using financial jargon for a half-percentage-point cut.
The ECB sets interest rate policy for the European Union member countries that have joined the euro currency.