Ahmed Malek to Attend World Premiere of “The Furnace” in Venice

Egyptian actor Ahmed Malek will travel to Italy to attend the world premiere of his Australian movie “The Furnace” at the 77th Venice Film Festival.

The 77th Venice Film Festival is set to kick off today, Wednesday amidst strict safety measures in place, which marks the first major post coronavirus physical film event.

The festival is packed with plenty of symbolic significance that might help movie buffs forget the pandemic for a while. Cate Blanchett is supplying this year’s star power as president of the jury.

At Wednesday’s opening film, “Lacci” by Italian director Daniele Luchetti, the theatre was just half full of journalists, whose temperatures were taken before being allowed inside.

Approximately 6,000 people are expected to turn out this year— about half the festival’s usual number – as border restrictions around the globe have limited the ability to travel to many.

Eighteen films in the main competition will vie for the festival’s top prize, the prestigious Golden Lion.

[caption id="attachment_74666" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Venice Film Festival[/caption]

“The Furnace” is competing in the Horizon section of the Venice International Film Festival, which is set to take place from September 2 to 12.

The movie mark Malek’s international debut feature, in which he starred alongside veteran actor David Wenham.

"The Furnace" will receive a Gala party; it is set to be screened twice on Friday, September 4, amid the attendee of its film crew.

The movie, directed by Roderick MacKay and produced by Timothy White, takes place in the 90s, in Australia.

The plot revolves around a camel rider (played by Malek) cooperating with a bushman, (played by Wenham), to beat their opponents in a race to reset gold bars located at a hidden furnace.

Safety measures

In a statement, Festival Director Alberto Barbera stated that strict sanitary security measures are in place involving multiple swab tests for those arriving from outside Europe and also from some European countries, such as Spain.

There are also thermoscanners at festival entrance points and social-distanced seating in screening venues and at press conferences.

In May, Barbera made the high-stakes decision to go ahead with “La Mostra”, despite film festivals around the world opting to cancel, including Cannes Film Festival.

“We feel a responsibility to be the first. We knew Venice will be sort of a test for everyone,” he said at the time.

For the past few months across the globe, most film production remained on hold, and movie theatres dark due to the coronavirus.

“It is a festival without stars because Hollywood is still in lockdown. Will there be less glamour? Yes. Will there be fewer stars on the red carpet? Certainly,” Barbera told AFP.

“But there will be so many good films, 65 from 50 different countries, a sign of the richness and variety of contemporary cinema.”

The festival marks Italy’s return to the center of the art world after it became the first country in the West to be hit by COVID. At that time, “Mission: Impossible 7,” starring Tom Cruise, was shooting in Venice. The production company had to suspend work on the project.