When I last spoke to columnist Roger Friedman he mentioned that Woody Allen would love to bring his 50th film, “Coup de Chance,” to the San Sebastián Film Festival.
Now he’s spoken to a few in-the-know folks who claim that the film “is likely headed to the Venice Film Festival at the end of August”.
This terrific new murder-drama is apparently high on the list for Venice director Alberto Barrera as much as said so, according to my spies, at the Cannes opening night private dinner.
It’s not that surprising that Barbera has been very high on “Coup de Chance.” Early word of mouth has been good. Now he might have an 80th edition of Venice that includes Woody Allen, Roman Polanski and Luc Besson.
We had previously posted some intel about the film, via The Film Stage, which said that certain programmers who’d previously sworn Allen off are now reconsidering some change of tune.
What this intel suggests is that Barbera is reconsidering including Allen in his forthcoming 80th edition lineup because the film is too good not to program.
Friedman was one of the rare few people to see “Coup de Chance” in April. He says it’s one of Allen’s best fioms. So far it has a French distributor, but it will hopefully have a theatrical release in the US this fall.
The upcoming film had two private screenings in NYC back in March and April.
Friedman raved about it saying it was “sensational.” The previous month, Keith McNally snuck into a private screening and was blown away as well. “Coup de Chance” was also screened at the EFM market in Berlin with one buyer emailing me, echoing McNally’s sentiments, that it was Allen’s “best film in years”.
Daniel Kaluuya took a sabbatical from acting back in 2022. There have been many theories as to why, but the important thing is he’s finally back, starring in this fall’s Chris Rock-directed “Misty Green.”