Venice Film Festival productions emerge as potential Oscar contenders

Several films from the Venice Film Festival are emerging as potential contenders for the upcoming Academy Awards.

Robert Pattinson is generating significant buzz for his role in ‘Primetime’, a film depicting the career of Chris Hansen and his ‘To Catch a Predator’ program. Pattinson, who also serves as a producer, portrays Hansen in a performance that may lead to his first Oscar nomination.

Director Martin McDonagh’s new black comedy, ‘Wild Horse Nine’, features John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell as CIA agents on Easter Island in 1973. Malkovich is noted as a potential best actor front-runner for his portrayal of an aging assassin.

In the live-action short film category, Maggie Gyllenhaal’s ‘Flesh Impact’ is a notable contender. Created to celebrate Marilyn Monroe’s centenary, the film features Ellen Burstyn as a 100-year-old Monroe and Dakota Johnson in flashback sequences.