A near‑ten minute standing ovation at Venice shocked many — and it arrived for Julian Schnabel’s long‑gestating In The Hand Of Dante. The film reportedly drew a 9.5‑minute ovation at its world premiere (Deadline) after Schnabel accepted the festival’s Cartier Glory award, signaling intense early emotion and industry attention. That reaction matters: festivals still create awards and sales momentum, and this one puts an art‑house, star‑studded thriller into the conversation. Could this ovation convert into awards season traction or simply festival hype? Read on to see what changes now.
4 Fast Facts From The Venice Premiere You Should Know Today
Fact 1: Julian Schnabel’s In The Hand Of Dante premiered at Venice on Sep 3, 2025.
Fact 2: The screening received a reported 9.5‑minute standing ovation (Deadline).
Fact 3: The film’s cast includes Oscar Isaac, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Al Pacino and others.
Fact 4: Schnabel accepted the Cartier Glory To The Filmmaker Award before the screening.
Why A 9.5‑Minute Ovation At Venice Could Shift This Film’s 2025 Trajectory
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A long ovation at Venice isn’t just applause — it’s industry signal: buyers, distributors and awards voters watch who gets emotional responses in the Sala Grande. With festival timing Aug 27–Sep 6, 2025, that buzz lands squarely in the early awards‑season calendar. For readers: if you follow awards betting or streaming acquisitions, this is the moment buyers start making calls. My take: the ovation gives Schnabel’s commercially risky art epic a clearer path to festival laurels and international sales, though critical reviews remain mixed.
Which Reaction Stood Out — Cast Hugs, Director Lines, And A Viral Clip
The red carpet and after‑screening moments delivered emotional theatre: Schnabel hugged Oscar Isaac as the lights went up, and cast members embraced during the applause. Oscar Isaac told reporters he was drawn by “the impossibility” of realizing the story, a line that captured the film’s daring tone. Social posts from press outlets amplified the moment into viral clips.
#InTheHandOfDante director Julian Schnabel hugs his leading man Oscar Isaac after the world premiere of the film at the #VeniceFilmFestival pic.twitter.com/bZBoAn533S
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) September 3, 2025
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If you loved star‑packed premieres, this is your backstage pass — but would that clip convert into mainstream box office interest?
What Festival Ovation Lengths Reveal About 2025 Film Buzz Trends
Venice’s ovations have become a crude metric for early prestige: recent premieres have earned 8–15 minute standing ovations for highly anticipated auteurs. A near‑10 minute clap places Schnabel’s film alongside major crowd pleasers this year, matching or exceeding other early favorites. That pattern suggests programmers and critics still use ovation length as shorthand for emotional resonance — which can translate into nicer press packages and stronger seller leverage at markets like Venice and Toronto.
3 Key Numbers That Predict This Film’s Awards And Sales Momentum
| Indicator | Value | Change/Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Premiere Ovation | 9.5 min (Deadline) / 8 min (Hollywood Reporter) | Unusually long, signals strong early buzz |
| Festival Window | Aug 27–Sep 6, 2025 | Positions film in early awards conversation |
| Named Cast | 9 Stars | Adds marketability for distributors and buyers |
Early ovation, festival timing and star cast boost awards and international sales prospects.
What This Venice Reception Means For Viewers And The Business By Year‑End 2025
Two short sentences: the ovation gives Schnabel’s film tangible momentum for awards talk and sales, but critical reviews remain mixed. Watch for distribution deals and festival resale coverage over the next weeks — if buyers pay up, this film could move from art‑house curiosity to awards contender. Will the applause translate into tickets or trophies? That’s the next chapter — and you’ll want to watch how festivals, critics, and buyers react.
Sources
- https://deadline.com/2025/09/in-the-hand-of-dante-movie-ovation-venice-1236506016/
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/julian-schnabel-in-the-hand-of-dante-venice-1236360232/
- https://deadline.com/2025/09/in-the-hand-of-dante-oscar-isaac-gal-gadot-julian-schnabel-1236504462/
Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.