Greek Director Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone Stun Venice Festival With “Bugonia”

Greek Director Yorgos Lanthimos arrived at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on Thursday, August 28, accompanied by his longtime collaborators and muse Emma Stone to present their latest film, Bugonia.

The psychological thriller, which competes in the festival’s official selection, reflects the director’s concerns about contemporary societal anxieties and received an enthusiastic response from audiences.

Following the screening in the Sala Grande, the crowd gave Lanthimos and the cast a six-minute-and-fifty-second standing ovation.

Stone, seated next to her husband Dave McCary, was moved to tears and later laughed after spotting a sign in the audience reading, “Emma, do you want to dance with me?” Lanthimos and the cast exited the theater arm in arm, forming a human chain as they acknowledged the audience.

Star-studded cast and striking red carpet at Venice International Film Festival

Stone made a stunning appearance on the red carpet in a white Louis Vuitton maxi gown featuring delicate straps and silver accents. Her natural-toned makeup was complemented by a dramatic cocktail ring. Bugonia also stars Jesse Plemons, Stavros Halkias, Aidan Delbis, and Alicia Silverstone.

Written by Will Tracy, the film follows two young men obsessed with conspiracy theories (Plemons and Delbis). They kidnap the powerful CEO of a major corporation (Stone), convinced she is an alien entity intent on destroying Earth.

Themes and Yorgos Lanthimos and Stone’s vision for Bugonia, presented at the Venice International Film Festival

“The world is approaching a critical juncture, and humanity must choose the right path,” Lanthimos said at the press conference. “With technology, artificial intelligence, wars, climate change, and widespread denial, I’m not sure how much time we have if we continue ignoring these issues.”

The title Bugonia comes from the ancient Greek words bous (ox) and genesis (birth or offspring) and references an old belief about bee reproduction from Virgil’s writings, suggesting bees could emerge from a dead cow—a metaphorical reflection of the film’s exploration of life, death, and transformation.

Production and global release

The film is produced by Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe for Element Pictures, Lanthimos via Pith, Stone through Fruit Tree, as well as Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen of Square Peg, and Miky Lee and Jerry Kyoungboum Ko for CJ ENM.

Focus Features will release Bugonia in a limited theatrical run in the US on October 24, followed by a wide release on October 31. In Greece, Tanweer will premiere the film in cinemas on November 6.

A highly anticipated fall release for Yorgos Lanthimos and Stone’s Bugonia

With its gripping narrative, high-profile cast, and Lanthimos’ signature surrealist style, Bugonia has already emerged as one of the fall season’s most anticipated films.

The combination of compelling storytelling and standout performances has ensured the film’s status as both a festival favorite and global cinematic event.