Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos, the filmmaker who redefined modern cinephile aesthetics and earned near-universal acclaim, is back on the Lido. His latest film, Bugonia, will make its world premiere in the main competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival — marking his fifth appearance at the prestigious event.
Reuniting once again with his creative muse, Emma Stone, after the Oscar-winning success of Poor Things, Lanthimos ventures into the absurd and the uncanny with Bugonia — a biting sci-fi satire based on a 2003 Korean cult classic.
The film tells the twisted tale of two conspiracy theorists who kidnap the high-powered CEO of a multinational corporation, convinced she’s an alien plotting Earth’s destruction. With a script penned by Succession writer Will Tracy, expect razor-sharp social commentary, surreal plot turns, and that trademark Lanthimos dark humor.
Emma Stone stars in Lathimos latest sci-fi comedy, “Bugonia” as the CEO of a major pharmaceutical company that’s been kidnaped.
Bugonia isn’t just another entry in Lanthimos’ eclectic filmography — it’s his first major festival outing since reaching Oscar royalty. Anticipation is sky-high, and while Stone leads the cast, more high-profile names are expected to be announced soon.
This year’s race for the Golden Lion is stacked with cinematic heavyweights: Noah Baumbach (Jay Kelly), Guillermo del Toro with his long-awaited take on Frankenstein, Kathryn Bigelow’s explosive A House of Dynamite, and Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice. Also vying for the top prize are Paolo Sorrentino, Jim Jarmusch, László Nemes, Benny Safdie, and Werner Herzog.
Outside the main competition, buzz is already building around Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt starring Julia Roberts, and Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man’s Wire.
Presiding over this year’s jury is celebrated filmmaker Alexander Payne, joined by an impressive panel including Cristian Mungiu and Mohammad Rasoulof — setting the stage for one of the most competitive and star-studded editions in recent memory.
