William Dafoe, a prolific actor, has been appointed as the artistic director of the Venice Biennale Theater. He has been given this great honor for the years 2025 and 2026. Dafoe was appointed as the artistic director on Monday. He is a frequent visitor to the red carpet of the Venice Film Festival.
The actor, who now lives in Rome with his wife, said the appointment was a surprise to him. But then he added that he was born into the theatre, and initially trained as a stage actor. Meanwhile, in a statement published by the Biennale, he said the programme for his two-year 2025-2026 term would reflect his own development.
Willem Dafoe appointed artistic director of Venice Biennale theatre department
Willem Dafoe has been elected artistic director of the Venice Biennale’s theatrical department for 2025 and 2026. According to Variety, Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, president of the Biennale’s board of directors, said, “It is an honor to announce the appointment of Willem Dafoe as director of the Biennale Teatro. His illustrious career began in the theater.”
He then praised Dafoe and said that as one of the founding members of the famous Wooster Group in 1977, his absolute control of his body on stage has always been a result of discipline, knowledge, enthusiasm and a deep understanding of theatre. He further said that he cannot wait to be a spectator at the festival he will create as artistic director. His legacy as an absolute maestro is to see the young men and women of the Theatre College grow in their art.
Following Pietrangelo Buttafuoco’s speech, Dafoe said, “I was surprised and delighted to accept Pietrangelo Buttafuoco’s request to direct the International Theatre Festival of la Biennale di Venezia 2025-2026. I understand that I am known as a film actor, but I was born in the theatre, where I was trained and inspired.”
Then she said she is a stage animal. She is an actress. Theatre taught her about art and life. Then she talked about working with the Wooster Group and said she has worked for the Wooster Group for 27 years. Over the years she has worked with great directors like Richard Foreman and Bob Wilson. Then she said her own development will determine the direction of their theatre program.
Meanwhile, the Biennale’s theatre department was established in 1934. Art, music and cinema divisions were established soon after. Previous directors include Renato Simoni, Luca Ronconi, Franco Quadri, Carmelo Bene and Luis Pascal. It is held every year alongside important cultural events such as the Venice Film Festival.
Willem Dafoe recently talked about the different types of kindness
Fans of director Yorgos Lanthimos got a surprise in June: his new film Kinds of Kindness. It’s different from his most recent films, the Oscar-winning Poor Things and The Favourite, because it’s neither a period piece nor a solo film. In a recent interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Dafoe talked about entering the world of Kindness.
When asked by the interviewer if he had any preconceived notions that were challenged once he got on set or if he had any ideas about what it would look like, Dafoe replied, “Because I’ve worked on bad stuff, I knew it would be different. And it’s a younger movie. It’s a current movie, not an old movie.”
He then said that he was interested to see if this version of Yorgos was any different. The answer was almost no. He then said that the films were indeed different, but Yorgos is not a stylist. He is an artist. So, when one watches a film with him, one is immersed in his world and process. Obviously, Poor Things was a great preparation.
Meanwhile, Kinds of Kindness will release on June 21, 2024.
Also read: Kinds of Kindness trailer: Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe leave audiences guessing in first look
