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Venice Film Fest Brings Psycho Ballerinas and Wannabe Rap Stars to Italy

Where: Venice, Italy
August 31, 2010 at 9:31 AM | by | Comments (0)

Black Swan will kick off opening night.

After a summer of lackluster movies—The Expendables and Piranha 3D, seriously?—we're eager to see some great fall flicks. The first place we're looking to is the 67th annual Venice Film Festival, which happens September 1 to 11.

Although the Venice event isn't the flashiest or most star-studded of the fests, it's got cred; it's the world's oldest film festival.

The fest will have some famous folks in attendance. Sofia Coppola will be there with her boyfriend's band "Phoenix" to promote her new drama, Somewhere, set in favorite Hollywood hotel Chateau Marmont. Natalie Portman, Helen Mirren, Ben Affleck and Quentin Tarantino are also expected to turn up at the fest.

Opening the festivities is psychological thriller Black Swan, helmed by Darren Aronofsky. The buzzed-about flick takes place among the New York City Ballet but won't be your typical dance movie. It stars Portman, Vincent Cassel and Winona Ryder. Making its world premiere will be Machete, spawned from a fake trailer in Tarantino's Grindhouse. The revenge movie has a bizarre cast, including Danny Trejo, Jessica Alba, Cheech Marin, Steven Seagal, Don Johnson, Lindsay Lohan and Robert De Niro.

Speaking of bizarre, I'm Still Here documents Joaquin Phoenix's attempt to become a rap star, which is either a joke or evidence that Phoenix is having a breakdown. Critics are also talking about Miral, about a Palestinian orphan growing up after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war and starring Freida Pinto.

Films will be screened at Palazzo del Cinema at Venice Lido, the main theater, and PalaBiennale.

Related Stories:
· Venice Festival Gambles on Youth, Movie Mavericks [ABC News]
· Venice Film Festival [Official Site]
· Forget the Popcorn! Eat Pigs' Blood Popsicles at the NYC Food Film Fest [Jaunted]

[Photo: Fox Searchlight]

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