21 films chasing top prize at Venice Film Festival
A young woman risks prison as she seeks an abortion in 1960s France in Audrey Diwan's drama.
ROME (AFP) - The Golden Lion, the top prize at the Venice Film Festival, will be awarded on Saturday.
It is being chosen from 21 contenders by a jury led by “Parasite” director Bong Joon-ho.
Here are the films in the running:
Parallel Mothers: Spain
Two single women prepare to give birth in a maternity ward in Pedro Almodovar’s latest film starring Penelope Cruz, which also touches on the trauma of Spain’s civil war.
Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon: US
Ana Lily Amirpour’s fantasy film sees Kate Hudson ditch her rom-com image as a hard-nosed stripper who befriends an escaped patient with supernatural powers in New Orleans.
Another World: France
The last of Stephane Brize’s trilogy about the world of work, it stars Vincent Lindon as a boss forced to make tough decisions.
The Power of the Dog: New Zealand/Australia
Two brothers feud on a Montana ranch after one comes home with a new wife, in Jane Campion’s film starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst.
America Latina: Italy/France
Italian twins Fabio and Damiano D’Innocenzo wrote and directed this love story thriller starring Elio Germano.
Happening: France
A young woman risks prison as she seeks an abortion in 1960s France in Audrey Diwan’s drama.
Official Competition: Spain/Argentina
Penelope Cruz stars as a film-maker dealing with two difficult leading men, including Antonio Banderas, in the comedy directed by Gaston Duprat and Mariano Cohn.
The Hole: Italy/France/Germany
Michelangelo Frammartino’s film is based on the true story of a group of speleologists who in 1961 discovered a deep cave in a remote area of Italy’s south.
Sundown: Mexico/France/Sweden
Tim Roth stars as a wealthy man seeking to walk away from his life while on vacation in Mexican director Michel Franco’s latest.
Lost Illusions: France
Xavier Giannoli’s film adaptation of the Balzac novel stars Benjamin Voisin, Xavier Dolan and Gerard Depardieu.
The Lost Daughter: Greece/US/UK/Israel
US actress Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut is based on an Elena Ferrante novel and stars Olivia Colman as a woman obsessed with another mother and daughter while on holiday.
Spencer: Germany/UK
Chilean director Pablo Larrain explores the collapse of the marriage of Princess Diana and Prince Charles, with Kristen Stewart in the leading role.
Freaks Out: Italy/Belgium
A circus troupe in Rome becomes increasingly desperate with the onset of World War II in Gabriele Mainetti’s film.
The King of Laughter: Italy/Spain
Toni Servillo stars as Naples’ famous turn-of-the-century comedian Eduardo Scarpetta in Mario Martone’s biopic.
On the Job: The Missing 8: Philippines
Erik Matti’s action sequel focuses on prisoners-turned-hitmen and corruption in the media.
Leave No Traces: Poland/France/Czechoslavakia
The true story of a witness to the fatal beating of a young activist in Warsaw by the militia under the Communist regime by Polish director Jan P. Matuszynski.
Captain Volkonogov Escaped: Russia/Estonia/France
Natasha Merkulova and Aleksey Chupov’s thriller follows a state interrogator in the former Soviet Union who flees, hoping to repent.
The Card Counter US/UK/China
A gambler is haunted by his past as a serviceman in Paul Schrader’s revenge thriller starring Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish and Willem Dafoe.
The Hand of God: Italy
Paolo Sorrentino’s highly personal drama is set in the Naples of his youth when he experienced terrible tragedy alongside the excitement of football legend Diego Maradona coming to his city.
Reflection: Ukraine
A Ukrainian surgeon seeks to rebuild his life after witnessing horrifying violence as a Russian prisoner in Valentyn Vasyanovych’s drama.
The Box: Mexico/US
A Mexico City teen heads north to collect his father’s remains but is drawn into the grim world of sweatshops in Venezuelan director Lorenzo Vigas’ film.
