Venice Artistic Director Alberto Barbera Staves Off Concerns About Lack of Press Junkets as Star-Studded Edition Kicks Off

Venice Film Festival Artistic director Alberto Barbera staved off concerns about a lack of press junkets as the event kicked off what he described as an edition “with the longest list of talents” in recent memory.

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Asked by a German journalist why there were “no press junkets” at Venice this year, Barbera said: “I am not aware of this situation,” adding: “I don’t think it concerns the bulk of the lineup.”

Journalists have lamented the fact that the buzziest star-studded titles playing at Venice this year, such as Angelina Jolie-starrer “Maria,” Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer,” with Daniel Craig, and Jon Watts-directed action comedy “Wolfs,” pairing George Clooney and Brad Pitt, won’t be doing any press besides the festival press conferences. Or at least, not any press junkets where substantial numbers of journalists can get soundbites. There are 2,900 accredited journalists at the festival this year.

Barbera said he would look into the situation and try to put pressure on the studios, but ultimately, “these are marketing decisions. We don’t manage talents,” he noted.

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On the subject of the massive amount of star power at Venice this year, after suffering the impact of last year’s Hollywood strikes which caused Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers” to be pulled and prevented most top talents from making the trek, Barbera said that despite being a more low-wattage edition “last year’s edition went really well despite our concerns. Despite the absence of actors, there was so much participation by everyone and the increasing audience.”

The 81st edition of Venice kicks off today with the premiere of Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” for which key cast Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Jenna Ortega, Catherine O’Hara, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci and Willem Dafoe will all be on the red carpet.

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