Two Luxembourgish co-productions selected for the 83rd Venice International Film Festival

La Biennale di Venezia has unveiled the official selection for the 83rd edition of the Venice International Film Festival, which will take place from 2 to 12 September 2026. This year, two Luxembourgish co-productions will feature in the programme: one in the Venice Immersive section, dedicated to virtual reality works and immersive experiences, and the other in the out-of-competition Venezia Spotlight section.

VENICE IMMERSIVE

ARTOU is the first virtual reality project by Mauritanian filmmaker and director Abderrahmane Sissako. The film is co-produced in Luxembourg by a_BAHN (François Le Gall and Marion Guth) with France and Mauritania. The work tells the story of three sisters and three brothers who, following their father's death in Europe, set out to fulfil his final wish: to be buried alongside his own father in his native village in Mauritania.

Presented in official competition in the Venice Immersive section, the project will compete for the three awards presented by an international jury composed of figures from the creative world: the Venice Immersive Grand Prize, the Venice Immersive Special Jury Prize and the Venice Immersive Achievement Prize.

OUT OF COMPETITION

The feature film GURIA, a comedy-drama directed by Levan Koguashvili, will have its world premiere in the out-of-competition Venezia Spotlight section. The film is an international co-production bringing together Tarantula Luxembourg (Donato Rotunno), Georgia, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Turkey and Norway.

The Luxembourgish co-production has involved several national talents, notably Pia Dumont, picture editing supervisor. The company Espera Productions carried out digital post-production laboratory and grading work, with Raoul Nadalet as laboratory, mastering and delivery supervisor. Post-production was coordinated by Émilie Lacourt. The Luxembourgish production team also included Fernand De Amorin (production manager), Régis Andres (financial manager) and Krystal Graf (production assistant).

The plot takes place in 1992, in the Guria region of Georgia, as civil war rages. Between work, parties, songs and love stories, the film paints a portrait of a community confronted with a turbulent historical context.

As part of the Venezia Spotlight section, spectators attending the official screenings will be invited to vote for their favourite film. The feature film receiving the highest number of votes will be awarded the Armani Beauty Audience Award.