The canals of Venice are once again shimmering with the promise of cinematic glory, as the 82nd Venice Film Festival opens its doors on August 27, 2025. This year’s edition, widely regarded as the world’s oldest and most prestigious film festival, has drawn an extraordinary roster of filmmakers and stars, setting the stage for what many expect to be one of the most exciting competitions in recent memory. According to Variety and Condé Nast Traveller UK, the festival is not only a launchpad for awards season hopefuls but also a showcase for films whose breathtaking locations are likely to inspire a new wave of "set-jetting"—the growing trend of traveling to places seen on screen.
Standing out among the contenders is Yorgos Lanthimos’ much-anticipated "Bugonia," a science-fiction black comedy starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons. As reported by The Courant, the film is a remake of the South Korean cult hit "Save the Green Planet!" and features Plemons as a conspiracy-obsessed man who, along with Aidan Delbis, kidnaps Stone’s character—a pharmaceutical CEO—believing she’s an alien. Focus Features has already scheduled a late October theatrical release, and the Oscar buzz is palpable.
"Bugonia" is also a love letter to its filming locations. According to Condé Nast Traveller UK, scenes were shot across the United Kingdom, including the leafy suburb of Oxshott in Surrey (where Stone’s character’s remarkable house is found), the urban streets of High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, and the sleek Botanica Ditton Park near Slough, which stands in for the CEO’s office. The film’s final act transports viewers to the lunar-like Sarakiniko Beach on Milos, Greece, whose stark white rock formations have already captured the imagination of travel enthusiasts worldwide.
But "Bugonia" is just one of many films at Venice this year drawing attention for both their artistic ambition and their evocative settings. Noah Baumbach’s "Jay Kelly," which also premieres in competition on August 28, stars George Clooney as a movie star grappling with an identity crisis. As he embarks on a journey across Europe with his manager Ron (played by Adam Sandler), the film sweeps through iconic locations: New York, London, Milan, Tuscany, and Caorso near Bologna, as detailed by Condé Nast Traveller UK. The ensemble cast includes Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, and Greta Gerwig, promising a blend of comedic and introspective moments set against some of the continent’s most picturesque backdrops.
Luca Guadagnino, renowned for his lush visual storytelling, returns with "After the Hunt," a psychological thriller starring Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, and Andrew Garfield. The film unfolds in the hallowed halls of Cambridge University, with scenes shot at Selwyn College, Westminster College, and The Pitt Building on Trumpington Street. According to the Cambridge Independent, this setting is no stranger to the big screen, having recently hosted other productions like Apple TV’s "Prime Target" and the Oscar-winning "The Theory of Everything." The film, screening out of competition on August 29, explores the fallout from a student’s accusation against a teacher, with Roberts’ character caught in the emotional crossfire.
Guillermo del Toro’s "Frankenstein" brings a gothic flourish to the festival, with filming locations as atmospheric as the story itself. As reported by The Scotsman and the BBC, the cast—including Oscar Isaac as Dr. Viktor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as the monster—filmed in Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, Parliament Square, and St Giles Street, as well as Glasgow Cathedral and Dunecht House in Aberdeenshire. The production also ventured to Toronto, further expanding its sense of eerie grandeur. Del Toro’s adaptation, a long-cherished dream project, is one of the most anticipated films of the year and is set for an October theatrical release followed by streaming on Netflix in November.
Other notable entries include Mona Fastvold’s "The Testament of Ann Lee," starring Amanda Seyfried as the founder of the Shaker movement. Filmed in Budapest and Gothenburg, this historical musical drama promises to transport viewers to 18th-century England, even as its production locations span Hungary and Sweden. Jim Jarmusch’s "Father Mother Sister Brother"—his first film in six years—offers a triptych of family stories set in New Jersey, Dublin, and Paris. The film, described by Jarmusch as an “anti-action film” with a subtle, quiet style, features an ensemble cast including Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Charlotte Rampling, Cate Blanchett, and Vicky Krieps, according to The Courant.
Asian cinema is also making a strong showing. Cai Shangjun’s "The Sun Rises on Us All" marks the director’s return to the Venice competition after his Silver Lion win for "People Mountain People Sea" in 2011. As reported by Variety, the film tells the story of a woman whose life is thrown into turmoil when her ex-boyfriend, who took the fall for a crime she committed, reappears. The cast features Xin Zhilei—winner of the Silver Bear at Berlin for "Crosscurrent"—alongside Zhang Songwen and Feng Shaofeng. With cinematography by Kim Hyunseok and production by Guangzhou Mint Pictures and Guangzhou Zizai Media, "The Sun Rises on Us All" is one of three Asian films competing at Venice, joining Park Chan-wook’s "No Other Choice" and Shu Qi’s "Girl."
Venice’s role as a launchpad for awards season is well established. As The Courant notes, the festival has been the starting point for Oscar-winning runs by films like del Toro’s "The Shape of Water" and Lanthimos’ "Poor Things," both of which took home the coveted Golden Lion before triumphing at the Academy Awards. This year, the stakes are just as high, with films from Kathryn Bigelow ("A House of Dynamite"), Sofia Coppola ("Marc by Sofia"), Gus Van Sant, and Park Chan-wook all vying for critical and popular acclaim.
Behind the scenes, MK2 Films is making waves by handling international sales for "The Sun Rises on Us All" and presenting Kent Jones’s "Late Fame" in the Orizzonti section. The company is coming off a banner year at Cannes, where it collected nine awards, including the Palme d’Or for Jafar Panahi’s "It Was Just an Accident."
For cinephiles and travelers alike, the 2025 Venice Film Festival is more than just a showcase of new movies—it’s a celebration of storytelling, place, and the enduring magic of cinema to transport us across continents and into the hearts of unforgettable characters. As the festival unfolds, all eyes are on the Lido, waiting to see which films will capture the world’s imagination and set the tone for the year ahead.
