Masterclasses and Conversations in the new Match Point Arena

After the success last year, the Masterclasses and Conversations with cinema personalities are back at the 81st Venice International Film Festival of La Biennale di Venezia, with a richer program and in a new and larger (250 seats) location – the Match Point Arena, set up at the Tennis Club Venezia on the Lido (Lungomare Marconi, corner via Emo, in front of the Hotel Excelsior, free entry for accreditation holders at the 81st Venice Film Festival).

In particular, four Masterclasses will be held by directors and performers, including the actress Sigourney Weaver (Golden Lion for Career) on Thursday 29 August at 4.30 pm, the director Peter Weir (Golden Lion for Career) on Sunday 1 September at 3.30 pm, the actor Ethan Hawke on Monday 2 September at 10.00 am and the director Pupi Avati on Friday 6 September at 4.00 pm (author of the closing film L'orto americano), which can also be followed in livestream on www.labiennale.org.

There will be three Conversations organised by Cartier - The Art and Craft of Cinema, in collaboration with La Biennale, which will include the dialogue between composer Nicola Piovani (Oscar award for Life Is Beautiful) and Cristina Comencini on Saturday 31 August at 11.00 am, director Claude Lelouch (Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker award) with singer, composer and actress Barbara Pravi (respectively director and performer of the out-of-competition film Finalement) on Saturday 31 August at 4.30 pm and actor Richard Gere with his Italian voice actor, Mario Cordova, on Sunday, 1 September at 10.30 am.

Schedule of Masterclasses and Conversations at the Match Point Arena at the Lido (Lungomare Marconi, corner via Emo, in front of the Hotel Excelsior). Access: all pass holders, no reservation required.

Thursday 29 August
4.30 pm Masterclass with Sigourney Weaver (Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement), led by Giulia D'Agnolo Vallan, film critic - Livestream www.labiennale.org

Saturday 31 August
11.00 am Conversation between Nicola Piovani and Cristina Comencini, Il Cinema cambia Musica, led by Stéphan Lerouge, expert in music for cinema and curator of the collection Ecoutez le cinéma!

4.30 pm Conversation between Claude Lelouch (Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker Award) and Barbara Pravi, Music as an actor’s director, led by Stéphan Lerouge, expert in film music and curator of the collection Ecoutez le cinéma!

Sunday 1 September
10.30 am Conversation between Richard Gere and Mario Cordova, The connection(s) between a movie star and creative collaborators: Richard Gere on acting, screenwriting, lighting, film scoring... and dubbing, led by Stéphan Lerouge, expert in music for the cinema and curator of the collection Ecoutez le cinéma!

3.30 pm Masterclass with Peter Weir (Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement), led by Paolo Bertolin, film critic - Livestream www.labiennale.org

Monday 2 September
10.00 am Masterclass with Ethan Hawke, led by Emanuele Rauco, film critic - Livestream www.labiennale.org

Friday 6 September
4.00 pm Masterclass with Pupi Avati, led by Angela Prudenzi, film critic - Livestream www.labiennale.org