Acclaimed Italian-Argentine filmmaker Marco Bechis is returning to the Lido with his latest feature drama, “Ritorno a Buenos Aires” (also titled “Volver a Buenos Aires”). The 104-minute Italian-Brazilian co-production has been officially selected to compete in the main competition at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, where it will contend for the prestigious Golden Lion.

“Ritorno a Buenos Aires“

Written by Bechis alongside Vigea Bechis Boll, “Ritorno a Buenos Aires” explores memory, guilt, and the complex psychological burden of survival. The narrative centers on Mariano Guerra (played by Adriano Giannini), a doctor living in Turin who travels back to Argentina after decades to testify in a high-profile trial against former military officers who abducted and tortured him during the military dictatorship in 1978—the same year Argentina hosted the FIFA World Cup amid widespread clandestine repression.

Rather than presenting a straightforward tale of heroism and retribution, the film examines the moral gray areas of human endurance. Under severe torture, Mariano broke down and named his comrades, leaving an enduring emotional scar that haunts him 33 years later. As he returns to face his former captors in court, Mariano is forced to confront his personal feelings of shame, the weight of survival, and the daunting possibility of internal reconciliation.

The ensemble cast includes Adriano Giannini in the lead role, alongside Ana Celentano, Marcelo Chaparro, Paula Cohen, Verónica Gerez, Olivia Nuss, and Adrián Fondari. The production is a joint venture between Italian and Brazilian banners, including Fandango, 39 Films, Karta Film, 34 Filmes, and Rai Cinema, with distribution handled by Fandango Distribuzione.

For Bechis, the film represents a thematic return to the historical trauma of Argentina’s Dirty War, a subject he famously examined in landmark works such as “Garage Olimpo” and “Figli – Hijos”.

At Venice, “Ritorno a Buenos Aires” joins a prestigious competition slate. Bechis will compete for the festival’s highest honor alongside fellow international directors, with a lineup that includes Werner Herzog’s “Bucking Fastard”, Florian Zeller’s “Bunker”, Casey Affleck’s “Company”, Ali Asgari’s “Kami nour”, Andrea Pallaoro’s “The Echo Chamber”, and Martin McDonagh’s “Wild Horse Nine”.

From Santiago to Venice

The 83rd Venice International Film Festival will run from September 2-12, 2026 in Venice, Italy. Born in Santiago, Chile, Bechis will turn 71 on October 24, 2026.

Separated by over 12,000 kilometers, Santiago and Venice represent two dramatically different geographic landscapes. Yet, beneath their surface contrast lies a compelling connection anchored in art, cultural exchange, and architectural dialogue.

Framed by the towering Andes mountains, Santiago serves as Chile’s bustling modern metropolis. Venice, built across 118 islands in a lagoon, is a historic pedestrian city woven together by waterways. Despite these physical differences, the primary bridge between them is global culture—most notably through the Venice Biennale.

Chile regularly showcases its top contemporary artists and architects in Venice’s historic pavilions. Through these international exhibitions, Chilean creators bring Santiago’s urban identity, political history, and artistic perspective to a global European audience. Furthermore, Italian migration to Chile during the 19th and 20th centuries deeply influenced Santiago’s culinary scene, wine production, and European-inspired neoclassical architecture.