Venice Days 2025: Full Lineup & Highlights Revealed

Mia Wasikowska, Catherine Deneuve, Rupert Friend Set for 2026 Venice Days Lineup

July 22, 2026

The 2026 edition of Venice Days, the independent and parallel section of the Venice Film Festival, is assembling a formidable ensemble for its upcoming slate. Mia Wasikowska, Catherine Deneuve, and Rupert Friend are among the confirmed cast members attached to projects selected for the prestigious sidebar event, which runs concurrently with the main festival on the Lido. While specific plot details and creative teams for many of these films remain under wraps, the caliber of talent involved signals a robust and internationally-minded program.

A Trio of Acclaimed Performers

Known primarily for her breakout role as the title character in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (2010), Mia Wasikowska has since built a career defined by art-house choices and psychologically complex roles. Her recent work includes collaborations with directors such as Jim Jarmusch and Jane Campion. Her participation in Venice Days marks a return to the festival circuit where she has previously premiered films like Stoker and The Double. Wasikowska’s selection for this year’s lineup suggests a project that continues her trajectory of seeking challenging, character-driven narratives.

Catherine Deneuve, the legendary French icon whose career spans from Belle de Jour to The Last Metro, adds her name to a Venice Days roster that frequently champions veteran European talent. Deneuve has been a regular presence at the festival over the decades, often appearing in both Competition and out-of-competition titles. Her involvement this year underscores Venice Days’ reputation for bridging auteur cinema with established star power. At 82, Deneuve remains one of the most respected and active screen actresses in world cinema.

Rupert Friend, known for his work in Homeland, Hitman: Agent 47, and more recently the dark comedy The Death of Stalin, brings a versatile screen presence. Friend has demonstrated a willingness to toggle between prestige television, blockbuster franchises, and independent productions. His participation in the Venice Days lineup likely offers him a vehicle for nuanced character work away from the demands of big-budget filmmaking. Friend’s recent roles have earned him critical nods for his ability to inhabit morally ambiguous or eccentric characters.

Venice Days as a Launchpad for Strong Performances

Venice Days, now in its 22nd year, has historically served as a launchpad for films that go on to gain significant awards attention. Past editions have introduced international audiences to breakthrough performances and directorial debuts that later garnered Oscar nominations and Palme d’Or wins. The section’s focus on cinéma d’auteur, with an emphasis on story and performance over spectacle, makes it an ideal venue for actors of this caliber to take creative risks.

The presence of both a younger art-house darling like Wasikowska and a living legend like Deneuve within the same program suggests a deliberate curatorial effort to bridge generations of filmmaking. These actors typically do not share screen time in the same project unless a director specifically designs a cross-generational narrative. Whether they appear in separate films or together in a single production remains unconfirmed. If they do appear together, it would represent one of the most intriguing pairings of the festival season.

Industry Implications and Festival Buzz

The announcement of these cast members well ahead of the full program release is a strategic move by Venice Days organizers to generate early buzz. In a competitive festival landscape, securing talent of this stature provides a strong differentiator from the main Venice Competition, which often tends toward bigger-budget or more internationally recognizable auteurs. Venice Days, by contrast, often features smaller budget but artistically adventurous projects that rely on performance to drive buzz.

In addition, the inclusion of Rupert Friend adds an Anglo-American dimension to a lineup that already carries French and Australian influences. This international mix is characteristic of the section’s mission to promote cross-cultural storytelling. The exact number of films each actor appears in, and whether any of those films are in their respective native languages, will likely be clarified when the full lineup is announced in the coming weeks.

Looking Ahead to the Lido

The 2026 Venice Film Festival is scheduled to run from late August into early September, with Venice Days opening a day before the main festival’s kickoff. As the industry prepares to converge on the Lido, the confirmed casting of Wasikowska, Deneuve, and Friend elevates expectations for a section that often holds its own against its more famous counterpart.

With few other details yet public - no director names, no synopses, no runtimes - the announcement serves as a teasing first look at a program that promises to reward cinephiles with unpredictable, actor-driven storytelling. For now, festival attendees and industry watchers have three compelling reasons to pay close attention to the Venice Days slate.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter