Dear Gossips,

It’s only the second day of the Venice Film Festival and it looks like a contender has emerged as more and more people are reacting to first screenings of Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog. Jane was joined by her lead actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst today at the photo call. I don’t know if this was intentional but they look like they colour-coordinated their outfits.

The Power of the Dog will have its world premiere tonight and will then head to the Toronto International Film Festival next week. Benedict is also receiving the TIFF Tribute Actor award, which also means he’s a frontrunner for the Best Actor Oscar considering that the two previous winners in this category, Joaquin Phoenix and Anthony Hopkins, also won this award to kick off their Oscar runs. Benedict will have Netflix behind him for his campaign too – and they don’t play when it comes to Oscar thirst.

But, as I wrote yesterday, don’t sleep on Kiki. She’s never been nominated, and there’s a strong case to be made that she’s due. That said, and I know it’s early, there are several films featuring anticipated Best Actress contenders that will be on the festival circuit over the next couple of weeks in Venice, Toronto, and Telluride.

A lot of people are talking about Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye Baker in The Eyes of Tammy Faye; she’s also been named as a TIFF Tribute Actor award recipient this year. Look out too for Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana in Spencer. And Penelope Cruz who stars in Pedro Almodovar’s Parallel Mothers.

More photos and news from Venice throughout the day. And a quick programming note: we are approaching the Labour Day long weekend here in North America so we’ll be dark TOMORROW and MONDAY and not posting until Tuesday, September 7. Unless of course something mega happens. Like a Bennifer wedding, lol.

Yours in gossip,

Lainey

Kirsten Dunst Gossip

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