Venice Line-up Will Generate Debate, Not Least For Inclusion Of Roman Polanski & Woody Allen; Latter Set To Attend Festival
deadline.comVenice Film Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera has shown once again that he is not scared to court controversy. The festival head has give Roman Polanski a safe festival berth for his new movie The Palace at Venice, in a selection that is likely to spark debate alongside the inclusion of Woody Allen’s Coeur de Chance.
They are among 12 films due to play Out of Competition at the 80th edition running August 30 to September 9. Barbera told Italian journalists in a Q&A after the main line-up announcement that Polanski, who turns 90 in August, will not make the trip to the Lido, while Woody is down to attend.
The Palace will still make for a starry red carpet with its ensemble cast featuring Oliver Masucci, Fanny Ardant, John Cleese, Joaquim De Almeida, Luca Barbareschi, Milan Peschel, Bronwyn James, Fortunato Cerlino, Michelle Shapa and Mickey Rourke.
It is 45 years since Polanski fled the U.S. after pleading guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and his victim Samantha Geimer has spoken on multiple occasions in Polanski’s defense, most recently in an interview with Polanski’s wife Emmanuelle Sagnier.
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