Daniel Craig cruised to Italy and is now on land at the Venice Film Festival for the Queer world premiere.
Ahead of the Luca Guadagnino film’s festival debut — taking place at Palazzo del Cinema’s Sala Grande in the early evening on Tuesday — Queer got toasted at a pre-premiere celebration courtesy of Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson and W Magazine’s editor-in-chief Sara Moonves. Anderson served as costume designer for the A24 release, marking his second straight collaboration with Guadagnino after Challengers. Also keeping it in the family, Craig stars in Loewe’s new campaign.
Held at Hotel Cipriani’s Il Porticciolo, the intimate affair drew a shortlist of actors from Queer, fashion insiders from Loewe and festival stars. Craig arrived arm-in-arm with actress wife Rachel Weisz who is here to support her husband as he breaks free of his James Bond persona for the gay period piece based on the novel by William S. Burroughs.
Joining the pair at the party were the film’s Drew Starkey, Lesley Manville, Jason Schwartzman and Omar Apollo with screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes, and editor Marco Costa. The competition title Queer is set in 1950s Mexico City where the action follows Craig’s character William Lee. An American ex-pat in his late 40s, Lee is leading a solitary existence amidst a small American community. His life changes once a young student, Starkey’s Eugene Allerton, arrives on the scene, stirring William into finally establishing a meaningful connection with someone.
Making the rounds were Loewe global brand ambassador Taylor Russell, Past Lives filmmaker Celine Song, Kodi Smit-McPhee (here with festival selections Maria and Disclaimer), Lorenzo Mieli, Paul Lightfoot, Juergen Teller, Colin Bates and others. See views inside the dinner below.
Jonathan Anderson, Sara Moonves, Daniel Craig, Drew Starkey and Luca Guadagnino.
Credit: Saskia Lawaks for W Magazine
Omar Apollo, left, and Drew Starkey catch up at the dinner. Pop star Apollo makes his acting debut in the film while Queer represents Starkey’s biggest breakout film role to date after making a name for himself on the Netflix series Outer Banks.
Credit: Saskia Lawaks for W Magazine
Luca Guadagnino, Jonathan Anderson and CAA’s Bryan Lourd. Guadagnino has credited Lourd for getting the Queer script into the hands of Craig.
Credit: Saskia Lawaks for W Magazine
Jason Schwartzman and Justin Kuritzkes.
Credit: Saskia Lawaks for W Magazine
Kodi Smit-McPhee and guest.
Credit: Saskia Lawaks for W Magazine
Taylor Russell plants a kiss on the cheek of her Bones and All director.
Credit: Saskia Lawaks for W Magazine
