Allen taking new film to Venice festival

Woody Allen, who rarely travels to film festivals, is expected to make his first appearance at the Venice Film Festival to attend the world premiere of his new comedy Anything Else on August 27.

Allen has had 10 of his films play at the Venice festival since 1982.

Anything Else, which he wrote, directed and stars in, centres on a struggling New York artist who becomes sentimentally entangled with a younger girl.

It also stars Christina Ricci, Danny DeVito and Jason Biggs and will open the festival, which runs until September 6.

“I’m looking forward to going to the festival,” said Allen in a statement. “I’ve never been to Venice at festival time and the city has been so generous and supportive to me and I love it so much that it will be a great honour.”

Last year Allen went to the Cannes Film Festival for the first time for the premiere of his comedy Hollywood Ending.