First Man, directed by Damien Chazelle (La La Land, Whiplash) to open the 75th Venice Film Festival

La Biennale di Venezia /

75^th Venice International Film Festival /

August 29 – September 8, 2018

Universal Pictures’ First Man, from Director Damien Chazelle, Makes World Premiere as Opening Film of the 75^th Venice Film Festival

 Universal Pictures’ First Man, directed by Damien Chazelle (La La Land, Whiplash) and starring Ryan Gosling, Jason Clarke and Claire Foy, has been announced as the opening film, in Competition, of the 75^th Venice International Film Festival (August 29 – September 8, 2018), directed by Alberto Barbera and organized by the Biennale di Venezia, chaired by Paolo Baratta. The announcement of the world premiere of the film comes on the eve of 49^th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing on the moon.

Barbera declared: “It is a true privilege to present the world premiere of Damien Chazelle’s new, highly-awaited film. It is a very personal, original and compelling piece of work, wonderfully unexpected within the context of present day epic films, and a confirmation of the great talent of one of the most important contemporary directors of American cinema. Our gratitude goes to Universal Pictures for premiering First Man at the 75^th Venice Film Festival.”

Chazelle declared:

"I am humbled by Venice's invitation and am thrilled to return. It feels especially poignant to share this news so close to the moon landing’s anniversary. I eagerly look forward to bringing the film to the festival.”

First Man will be shown in its world premiere screening on Wednesday August 29^th, in the Sala Grande at the Palazzo del Cinema on the Lido di Venezia.

On the heels of their six-time Academy Award®-winning smash, La La Land, Oscar®-winning director Damien Chazelle and star Ryan Gosling reteam for Universal Pictures’ First Man, the riveting story of NASA’s mission to land a man on the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the years 1961-1969. A visceral, first-person account, based on the book by James R. Hansen, the movie will explore the sacrifices and the cost—on Armstrong and on the nation—of one of the most dangerous missions in history.

Written by Academy Award® winner Josh Singer (Spotlight), the drama is produced by Wyck Godfrey & Marty Bowen (The Twilight Saga, The Fault in Our Stars) through their Temple Hill Entertainment banner, alongside Chazelle.  Steven Spielberg, Isaac Klausner, Adam Merims and Singer executive produce.  DreamWorks Pictures co-finances the film.  www.firstman.com

DAMIEN CHAZELLE

Academy Award® winner Damien Chazelle most recently wrote and directed the modern musical LA LA LAND, which earned 14 Oscar nominations, winning six awards, including Best Director for Chazelle, who is the youngest director to receive the award.  The film also won a record-breaking seven Golden Globe Awards, and was also honored with five BAFTA wins and 11 nominations. 

His previous film, 2014’s WHIPLASH, received five Academy Award nominations and three wins, including Best Supporting Actor for J.K. Simmons. His 2013 short, based on the WHIPLASH screenplay, won the Short Film Jury Prize at Sundance, and the following year the feature film took home both the Jury and Audience Awards from the festival. 

Chazelle made his first feature, GUY AND MADELINE ON A PARK BENCH, as an undergraduate student at Harvard University. The film was named one of the Best Films of the Year by LA Weekly, The New York Times, The Village Voice, and The Chicago Tribune, among numerous outlets. 

Upcoming in TV, Chazelle has a musical drama The Eddy for Netflix, and a straight-to-series order for a drama series for Apple, which he will direct and executive produce.