VENICE, Italy (AP) — Julia Roberts is making her Venice Film Festival debut with the psychosexual drama “After the Hunt,” which premieres Friday evening.

The film is set in the world of higher education and stars Roberts as a beloved professor whose mentee, played by “The Bear’s” Ayo Edebiri, accuses her friend and colleague (Andrew Garfield) of crossing the line.

“After the Hunt” was directed by Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, who is no stranger to the festival. Last year he brought “Queer,” with Daniel Craig, and several years ago had “ Bones & All,” with Timothée Chalamet. His tennis love triangle film “Challengers,” with Zendaya, was supposed to open Venice in 2023 but the Hollywood strikes upended much of that year’s festival and it was pulled.

Guadagnino regulars Michael Stuhlb

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