Coen brothers film to open Venice

'Burn After Reading' to world premiere in Italy

By NICK VIVARELLI

The Coen brothers' "Burn After Reading" will open the 65th Venice Film Festival.

World preem of the dark spy comedy, starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton, will bow on the Lido on Aug. 27, ahead of its U.K. release Sept. 5 via Universal Pictures.

Pic goes out Stateside via Focus Features on Sept. 12. Medusa is its Italian distributor.

"Burn," which Joel and Ethan Coen wrote, directed and produced, revolves around an ousted CIA official, played by Malkovich, whose memoir falls into the hands of two Washington, D.C., gym employees who attempt to exploit their find.

The Coen brothers' latest is a Working Title production produced by Joel and Ethan Coen and exec produced by Working Title's Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Robert Graf.

A Venice fest rep told Daily Variety that it has not yet been decided whether "Burn After Reading" will unspool in competition or out of competition.

The Coens were last on the Lido in 2003 with "Intolerable Cruelty," starring Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones. That pic played out of competition.

Meanwhile, this year will be the second in a row that a Working Title film opens Venice, following "Atonement" in 2007.

Venice fest runs until Sept. 6.

Read the full article at:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117984737.html

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