John Wick spin-off Ballerina will open the 71st Taormina Film Festival, which kicks off in Sicily next week and announced its line-up today.
Star Ana de Armas will not be in attendance, with the film represented instead by director Len Wiseman and actor Norman Reedus.
It is among eight features that will play as special events in Taormina’s Ancient Theatre.
Another 10 titles will play in the International Feature Film Competition including Iraq War U.S. Navy Seal drama Warfare, The Rule Of Jenny Pen with John Lithgow and Geoffrey Rush, and David Mamet’s Henry Johnson with Shia LaBeouf, Evan Jonigkeit and Chris Bauer. (scroll down for the full list).
Ballerina is among 13 Out of Competition other titles which also include Billy Zane’s Int. Hallway / Night and Tyler Perry’s The Six Triple Eight.
A number of high-profile stars will attendees to receive honorary awards including Martin Scorsese, Michael Douglas, Catherine Deneuve, Geoffrey Rush, Helen Hunt, Monica Bellucci and Olivia Wilde.
Young stars making the trip include Will Poulter who is accompanying Warfare directors Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland.
“This year, we pay homage to two giants of world cinema: Martin Scorsese and Michael Douglas, who will be awarded for their extraordinary contribution to cinematic art. It is an honor to welcome them to Taormina, one of the symbolic locations of Italian and world cinema,” said Artistic Director Tiziana Rocca.
“There are many new features in this edition. With great satisfaction, we also announce the return of the competitive section, the beating heart of the Festival, which will feature 10 films in competition, works that represent the new lifeblood of contemporary auteur cinema.”
International Feature Film Competition
Henry Johnson
Dir. David Mamet
Wondrous Is The Silence Of My Master
Dir. Ivan Salatic
For Your Sake
Dir. Axel Monsú
Jastimari
Dir. Riccardo Cannella
Measures For A Funeral
Dir. Sofia Bohdanowicz
The Million Dollar Bet
Dir. Thomas Woschitz
Warfare
Dir.Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland
Leopardi & Co
Dir. Federica Biondi
Brides
Dir.Nadia Fall
The Rule Of Jenny Pen
Dir.James Ashcroft
Out of Competition
Ballerina
Dir. Len Wiseman
Together
Dir. Michael Shanks
Hotel Costiera
Dir. by Adam Bernstein
Int. Hallway / Night
Dir. Billy Zane
The Six Triple Eight
Dir. Tyler Perry
The Issue With Tissue: A Boreal Love Story
Dir. Michael Zelniker,
Thena
Dir. Peter Gold
Arrivederci Tristezza
Dir. Giovanni Virgilio
Men of War
Dir. Billy Corben and Jen Gatien
l’Amore Sta Bene Su Tutto
Dir. Giampaolo Morelli
Come Fratelli
Dir. Antonio Padovan
Bardot
Dir. Alain Berliner
Popolare
Dir. Carmelo Popolo
