Gitanjali Rao’s feature debut will kick off the 2019 Venice Critics’ Week. The award-winning Indian animator will premiere “Bombay Rose” at the independently run Venice sidebar, which runs August 28-September 7.
Set on the streets of Mumbai, “Bombay Rose” is a musical romance that tells the story of Kamala and Salim’s quest for love using hand-painted animation. The pic is screening out of competition.
Of the seven titles in Competition, three are women-directed, amounting to about 43 percent of the slate. The program includes “Doctor Who” alumna Billie Piper’s directorial debut, “Rare Beasts.” The anti-rom-com follows a career-driven single mom who falls for a traditionalist. Also set to screen are Marie Grahtø’s “Psychosia,” a portrait of a suicidal woman and the doctor treating her, and Shad Ameen’s “Scales,” a story that takes place on an island where the only source of food is mermaid flesh.
“Among other prizes, all Venice Critics’ Week films will compete alongside titles in the official selection for the festival’s Lion of the Future award worth $100k,” Deadline details. “The winners of that prize are decided by the public rather than a jury.”
Venice’s main lineup will be announced July 25. Last year the fest signed the 5050×2020 Pledge, committing to greater transparency in its selection process and staff, with the goal of eventually bettering gender representation.
