JA Bayona’s Survival Thriller ‘Society of the Snow’ to Close Venice Film Festival

Snow SocietyJA Bayona’s survival thriller, and the director’s first Spanish-language feature in 16 years, will close the 2023 Venice Film Festival in a chilly way.

The Netflix feature will have its world premiere out of competition on the Lido on September 9 following the festival’s awards ceremony.

Set in 1972, Snow Society follows the story of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, which was chartered to carry a rugby team to Chile but crashed in the heart of the Andes. Only 29 of her 45 passengers survived the crash. Trapped in one of the harshest and most inaccessible environments on the planet, they must resort to extreme measures to survive.

The news comes as autumn festivals brace for the impact of the SAG-AFTRA strike and just one day after Venice lost its original opening night film. ChallengersLuca Guadagnino’s R-rated tennis drama starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, was due to lift the curtain on the 80th edition of the festival ahead of its Sept. 15 release, but industrial action forced MGM to postpone the film to April 2024, meaning it will miss Venice altogether.

In his place, Edoardo De Angelis’ Commander it now occupies the opening night slot.

Last week, Venice director Alberto Barbera said he was working on a plan B should American films not attend the festival due to the strike, telling planners it “will be a pan-European festival,” according to sources. Looks like Plan B is now operational.