The Venice Film Festival is an annual celebration of films that innovate, excite and tell important stories. And there are few movies that are more interesting than ones that are based on real events. So let’s take a walk through some of the best true-story adaptations at the Venice Film Festival over the past few years.

MARIA (2024)  

This stunning biopic tells the beautiful and tragic story of the world’s greatest opera singer, Maria Callas. Starring the legendary Angelina Jolie, this film shows the opera star’s last days in 1970s Paris. This is the producer Pablo Larrain’s third work that paints an inside portrait of iconic women of the 20^th century and it did not disappoint. Its beautiful cinematography and Jolie’s stellar performance astound viewers and leave behind a lasting impression.

ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO (2024)

This fascinating documentary delves deep into John Lennon’s and Yoko’s musical, personal, artistic, social and political world in 1972 when the couple had just moved to New York during a turbulent time in America’s history. The directors wanted to show a transformative time in the couple’s life through their own words, voice and music. The film is definitely a must-watch for Beatles fans throughout the world. It features troves of previously unseen archive footage, including personal phone calls and home videos filmed by John and Yoko, as well as restored footage from the One to One concert with remixed audio overseen by Sean Ono Lennon.

PRISCILLA (2023)

This stunning biopic uncovers an unexpected view into not the life of the King of Rock n’ Roll himself, but rather the life of his former wife, Priscilla Presley. It follows the usually unseen side of Priscilla’s relationship with Elvis, from their introduction and long courtship to their turbulent marriage, as well as Priscilla’s own journey from her teenage years to adulthood. The main stars’ stellar acting, the incredible costume design and the film’s striking soundtrack, all impressed its viewers. The film not only received a 7-minute long standing ovation from its audience at its premiere, but it has also received high praise from Priscilla Presley herself.

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SPENCER (2021)

This biographical drama has captivated its audiences with a glimpse into Princess Diana’s life, turbulent marriage and an imagining of what might have happened behind the mysterious closed doors of the Royal family during a Christmas dinner at Sandringham House. Kristen Stewart has won a Best Actress award and charmed viewers of the film all over the globe with her impactful performance and inside the Venice Film Theatre itself, the crowd gave it a memorable five-minute standing ovation. The film masterfully paints an intimate and haunting portrait of Diana’s inner world and her internal path to freedom during a time when she felt most constrained.