On August 27, the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival is scheduled to begin with the screening of the Coen brothers’ dark comedy “Burn after Reading,” whose cast includes many household names such as George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich and Tilda Swinton.

The movie, which tells the story of two fitness trainers who accidentally come into possession of a former C.I.A. agent’s memoirs, will not be entering the competition for the Golden Lion-the top prize.

During 11 days, 21 movies will try to win the jury- presided by German director Wim Wenders-over. Of these, only 5 are from the United States this year, which comes as a foreseeable consequence of the Hollywood screenwriters’ strike.

They are: “Burning Plain,” directed by Guillermo Arriaga-depicting the mutual efforts of a mother (played by actress Kim Basinger) and her daughter (Charlize Theron) to start over their relationship with a clean slate; Darren Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler” starring Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei; “Rachel Getting Married” with Anne Hathaway, directed by Jonathan Demme (who won an Academy Award for “The Silence of the Lambs in 1991), Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker” and Amir Naderi’s “Vegas: Based on a True Story”.

Other contenders are “Il Papà di Giovanna” (“Giovanna’s Father”), directed by Pupi Avati, which reveals a story of a girl committed in a mental institution after killing her best friend; Pappi Corsicato’s “Il seme Sella Discordia” (“The Seeds of Discord”)-the turmoil of a man who not only finds out that he is infertile, but also that his wife is pregnant; “Un Giorno Perfetto” (“A Perfect Day”); “Birdwatchers” and 1997 Golden Lion winner Takeshi Kitano’s “Achilles and the Tortoise.”

With so many celebrities strolling down the red carpet, it stands to reason that, until September 6-the closing of the festival-Venice will be riding the waves of fame and worldwide recognition.