By Lindsey Bahr, AP Film Writer
The Venice International Film Festival will kick off its 78th edition in September with the premiere of Pedro Almodóvar's film "Madres paralelas."
Organizers said Monday that the film about two, single and pregnant women starring Penélope Cruz, Milena Smit and Israel Elejalde will debut as part of the competition slate on Sept. 1.
Almodóvar has a long history with the oldest film festival in the world and said in a written statement that he was "born as a film director in 1983 in Venice." In 2019, he was given the Festival's Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.
"I cannot explain the joy and the honor, and how much this means to me without falling into complacency," Almodóvar continued. "I am very grateful to the festival for this recognition and hope to be up to it".
Festival director Alberto Barbera said the film is, "An intense and sensitive portrait of two women as they contend with a pregnancy with unpredictable consequences, women's solidarity, and sexuality that is experienced in full freedom and without hypocrisy, all against the backdrop of a reflection on the ineluctable need for truth that is to be unwaveringly pursued."
The Venice International Film Festival is scheduled to run through Sept. 11 on the sleepy beach island Lido.
The festival will also host the premiere of Denis Villeneuve's anticipated adaptation of "Dune," starring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, as well as David Gordon Green's "Halloween Kills" in conjunction with a lifetime achievement award for star Jamie Lee Curtis.
Jean Smart, Ariana Grande, Michael Keaton among hosts for “SNL” season 50
Fresh off her Emmys win, Jean Smart will kick off the landmark 50th season of "Saturday Night Live."
NBC on Thursday announced the lineup of hosts for the season, which premieres Sept. 28. Joining Smart on the first show will be Jelly Roll as the musical act. He was also at the Emmys, singing during the ceremony's in memoriam segment.
It will be Smart's first time hosting "SNL."
Comedian Nate Bargatze will host on Oct. 5, with Coldplay as the musical guest.
Ariana Grande will host Oct. 12, with musical guest Stevie Nicks.
"Beetlejuice" star Michael Keaton will host on Oct. 19, the last show before Halloween, and Billie Eilish will be that night's musical guest.
The host on Nov. 2 will be "SNL" alum John Mulaney, with breakout sensation Chappell Roan as the music guest.
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