Overview

• Johnson was visibly emotional during an approximately 15-minute standing ovation after the competition screening, joined by Emily Blunt, director Benny Safdie and the real Mark Kerr.
• Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera publicly praised the film and signaled it as a strong contender in the awards race.
• Johnson appeared markedly slimmer at the festival, with widely cited reports of roughly 20–27 kilograms of weight loss for the role that drew viral attention on social media.
• The portrayal relied on extensive prosthetics and makeup led by Kazu Hiro, with multi-hour daily sessions to approximate Kerr’s look.
• Safdie directs solo with A24 producing, early Oscar buzz has intensified after the premiere, and the U.S. theatrical release is set for October 3.