Venice Critics’ Week has unveiled the selection for its 2025 edition running from August 27 to September 6.
The seven titles in Competition include Straight Circle, the debut feature from buzzy music video director Oscar Hudson. The film is described as a dark comedy on the absurdities of conflict.
The film follows two soldiers from opposing nations who are stationed at a shared barrack on a desolate border. As they grapple with their identities, loyalties, and the absurdity of their situation, their isolation slowly gives way to an unfathomable nightmare that will blur the line between friend and foe.
Also in Competition is Gorgonà from Greek filmmaker Evi Kalogiropoulou and Agon, the debut feature from Giulio Bertelli, the son of Miuccia Prada.
Outside of Competition, Julia Jackman’s 100 Nights Of Hero will debut. The film stars Emma Corrin, Maika Monroe, Nicholas Galitzine, Charli XCX, Richard E. Grant, Amir El-Masry, and Felicity Jones. The film will close the Critics’ Week sidebar.
Described as a “feminist fairy tale,” the film is set in an alternate world, ruled by the despotic Birdman, centering on a bet between two friends: Manfred (Galitzine) wagers to Jerome that he can seduce his wife, Cherry (Monroe), in 100 nights. If he wins, he gets Jerome’s castle and all his riches, whilst Cherry will be collateral damage; she will be executed. As Jerome leaves, Cherry finds herself trapped in a remote castle, torn between the beguiling charisma of her husband’s friend and her trust in her maid Hero (Corrin), whose suspicions of Manfred grow daily as time starts running out, emotions intensify, resulting in a love triangle with life-and-death stakes.
The Venice main Competition lineup will be announced tomorrow.
The full-line-up
Competition
Agon, Giulio Bertelli (Italy, U.S., France)
Cotton Queen, Suzannah Mirghani (Germany, France, Palestine, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia)
Gorgonà, Evi Kologiropoulu (Greece, France)
Ish, Imran Perretta (U.K.)
Roqia, Yanis Koussim (Algeria, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia)
Straight Circle, Oscar Hudson (U.K.)
Waking Hours, Federico Cammarata, Filippo Foscarini (Italy)
Out Of Competition
Opening Film: Stereo Girls, Caroline Deruas Peano (France, Canada)
Closing Film: 100 Nights of Hero, Julia Jackman (U.K.)
