06/07/2023 - After having won the Silver Lion for Bones and All, the director is heading back to the Lido, this time out of competition, with a film starring Zendaya as a former tennis champion

Challengers [+see also:
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Q&A: Luca Guadagnino
film profile], is thus heading back to the Lido, where he showed Bones and All [+see also:
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Challengers stars Zendaya (the series Euphoria, Dune [+see also:
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The film was written by Justin Kuritzkes, the director of photography is Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, the editor is Marco Costa and the music comes courtesy of Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross. It is a US production staged by Amy Pascal, Luca Guadagnino, Zendaya and Rachel O’Connor. It will be distributed in the USA by Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures/Amazon Studios, and internationally through Warner Bros Pictures.

Festival director Alberto Barbera said: “Luca Guadagnino is one of the few Italian directors who has always been accustomed to working with both Italian and foreign actresses and actors, getting top results from all of them each time. Even when he is filming abroad, as is the case with Challengers. With a light hand and sporting self-confidence, Guadagnino sets no limits to his creative energy in this film as he deals with topics such as love, friendship and male rivalry, and brings to life an enthralling and affecting movie, full of irony, sensuality and good nature. Cinema in its purest form.”

Luca Guadagnino said: “I am so thrilled for audiences to experience my new film Challengers at the Venice Film Festival. It’s a modern bold story of youthful energy, love and power. Zendaya, Josh and Mike are totally original and fresh, bringing a new energy like you’ve never seen before. I can’t wait for the Lido audience to dance across the notes of the soundtrack of Trent and Atticus at the opening night of the 80th edition of the Mostra. As a filmmaker, it is a dream come true, and I am grateful to Alberto and the whole Venice family for this wonderful recognition for the film.”

(Translated from Italian)