Variety gets the scoop that the following films will play at Venice:
George Clooney’s Suburbicon
Guillermo Del Toro’s The Shape of Water
Stephen Frears’ Victoria and Abdul
Paolo Virzi’s Ella and John
Paul Schrader’s First Reformed
Andrew Haigh’s Lean on Pete
Lucrecia Martel’s Zama
Alexander Payne’s Downsizing will also play the fest.
As we know, in recent years Venice has been a pivotal stop en route to the Best Picture race. Venice occurs just days before Telluride and films that do well at both tend to have a great shot at being in the conversation, be they ultimate winners like Birdman or frontrunners like Gravity or Arrival.
The Shape of Water and Victoria and Abdul look good at the moment, with nothing but surface stuff to go on. Clooney as a director can be hit or miss – but when he hits, he hits.
Victoria and Abdul’s trailer:
Judi Dench has never won a lead Oscar, but did win for playing another Queen, this time Elizabeth, and she won in supporting. She’s always great, is beloved in the industry and not getting any younger. Although young actresses tend to take the whole season these days, dressed up as fashion icons throughout, as we used to say back in the early days of Oscarwatch, never underestimate the power of Judi Dench.
![2026 Oscars: Best Actress [POLL] Chase Infinity to Campaign in Lead](https://www.awardsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GnDy5PKXEAAnUOE-120x86.jpeg)
