Downsizing by Alexander Payne to open Venezia 74

Downsizing, directed by Alexander Payne (Sideways, The Descendants, Nebraska) starring Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau and Kristen Wiig will be the opening film, in Competition, of the 74th Venice International Film Festival (30 August – 9 September 2017) directed by Alberto Barbera and organized by the Biennale di Venezia, chaired by Paolo Baratta.

Downsizing will be shown in its world premiere screening on Wednesday August 3oth in the Sala Grande at the Palazzo del Cinema on the Lido di Venezia.

Downsizing follows the adventures of Paul Safranek (Matt Damon), an everyman from Omaha who, along with his wife Audrey (Kristen Wiig), dreams of a better life. As the world faces an overpopulation crisis, scientists develop a radical solution that can shrink humans to five inches tall. People soon discover how much further money goes in a smaller world, and with the promise of a lavish lifestyle beyond their wildest imaginations, Paul and Audrey decide to risk the controversial procedure and embark upon an adventure that will change their lives forever.

Paramount Pictures presents an Ad Hominem Production / Gran Via Productions Production. An Alexander Payne film, it stars Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau and Kristen Wiig; Produced by Alexander Payne, PGA; Mark Johnson, PGA; Jim Taylor, PGA; Written by Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor; Directed by Alexander Payne; Executive Producers Megan Ellison, Diana Pokorny, Jim Burke; Music Supervisor Dondi Bastone; Music Composed and Conducted by Rolfe Kent; Costume Designer Wendy Chuck; Edited by Kevin Tent, ACE Production; Designer Stefania Cella; Director of Photography Phedon Papamichael, ASC, GSC.

Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Alexander Payne earned his MFA in Film at The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He made his feature film debut with Citizen Ruth (1996) and followed up with Election (1999), which won Best Screenplay from the Writers' Guild of America and the New York Film Critics Circle, as well as an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. About Schmidt (2002), premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival and opened the New York Film Festival. Both Sideways (2004) and The Descendants (2011), won Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay and were nominated for four others, including Best Picture and Best Director. Nebraska (2013) premiered in competition at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, where Bruce Dern won the Best Actor Award. It was also nominated for six Academy Awards and five Golden Globes.