This year's Venice Film Festival will open with George Clooney's political thriller The Ides Of March and include new works by David Cronenberg and Abel Ferrara. The eagerly anticipated event will also feature British director Andrea Arnold's new adatation of Wuthering Heights, and Tomas Alfredson's take on John le Carré favourite Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.
Starring Jessica Chastain, Jodie Foster and Kate Winslet, social drama Carnage looks likely to be a festival hit despite the controversy still surrounding its director, Roman Polanski. Todd Solondz and Steven Soderbergh also have work in competition. It is probable, however, that critics will be approaching Madonna's directorial debut, the historical romance W.E., without the same level of expectation.
The festival runs from the 31st of August to the 10th of September.