Yorgos Lanthimos’ ‘Bugonia’ Premieres at Venice Film Festival with 7-Minute Standing Ovation

At the Venice Film Festival, Yorgos Lanthimos unveiled his latest film, ‘Bugonia,’ starring Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, and Aidan Delbis. The film, a remake of the South Korean movie ‘Save the Green Planet!’, explores the lives of two conspiracy theorists who kidnap a CEO (Stone), believing she is an alien intent on destroying Earth. The premiere of ‘Bugonia’ was met with overwhelming enthusiasm, receiving a 6-minute, 50-second ovation from the audience. Lanthimos, Stone, and Plemons all shared an emotional moment as they bowed together in front of the applauding crowd. Lanthimos has a long-standing collaboration with Stone, with their previous work including the critically acclaimed ‘Poor Things.’ This new project touches on themes of misinformation and conspiracy theories in today’s society, making it a timely reflection on the state of the world. The director emphasized that ‘Bugonia’ was born out of a sense of urgency surrounding the societal challenges humanity faces, including climate change, AI, and global conflict. Focus Features is set to release the film in limited engagement on October 24, 2025.