Lanthimos’ “Bugonia” premieres in Venice – 7-minute standing ovation, the meaning behind i
Source: ProtoThema English
For nearly seven minutes, the audience gave a standing ovation to the cast and crew of Bugonia, which had its world premiere yesterday, August 28, as part of the main competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival.
According to Deadline, the applause at the end of the screening lasted six minutes and 50 seconds, with Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos and his glittering cast bowing repeatedly.
The moment was so moving that Emma Stone, with her husband Dave McCary standing just behind her, shed tears of joy. She then burst out laughing when she spotted a sign in the hall that read: “Emma, will you dance with me?”, according to Variety.
“Bugonia” the latest Yorgos Lanthimos film starring #EmmaStone earns a 6-minute standing ovation at the #VeniceFilmFestival https://t.co/7qIXnjtYrs pic.twitter.com/p5zgYO0YnT
— Variety (@Variety) August 28, 2025
Continuing to bow, the director and the actors eventually exited the theater, holding onto each other’s shoulders, forming a chain.
On the red carpet, the acclaimed leading actress wore a striking white Louis Vuitton maxi dress with thin straps and silver detailing. Her makeup was kept natural, and she completed her look with a statement cocktail ring.
Starring alongside her in the film are Jesse Plemons, Stavros Halkias, Aidan Delbis, and Alicia Silverstone.
#EmmaStone sings while walking the red carpet at the #VeniceFilmFestival premiere of “Bugonia.” pic.twitter.com/bYBgogglqZ
— Variety (@Variety) August 28, 2025
The Greek director also sparked discussion earlier in the evening when he appeared at the premiere wearing a badge in the colors of the Palestinian flag.
During the press conference at the Lido, Lanthimos described the film as a reflection of our times, stressing that many of the dystopian elements it depicts are not fictional, but rather a mirror of reality. “Humanity will face a critical moment very soon,” he emphasized, referring to technological challenges, artificial intelligence, wars, climate change, and inaction in the face of global problems.
The Bugonia trailer
Yesterday, Focus Features released the first official trailer for Bugonia, a dark science-fiction comedy starring Oscar-winner Emma Stone and the charismatic Jesse Plemons.
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The film tells the story of a powerful CEO who is kidnapped by two young conspiracy theorists convinced she is an alien sent to destroy the planet.
Bugonia will be released in Greece on November 6, 2025, and in U.S. theaters on October 24.
This marks the fifth collaboration between Stone and Lanthimos. The movie is an English-language remake of the 2003 South Korean cult film Save the Green Planet! by Jang Joon-hwan.
Development began in 2020, with Jang initially set to direct and Will Tracy adapting the script. Ari Aster later joined as producer, and in February 2024 Lanthimos replaced Jang as director, with Stone coming on board as both actress and producer. It is worth noting that Lanthimos had wanted to film the final scenes of Bugonia at the Acropolis in Athens, but Greece’s Central Archaeological Council rejected the request.
Where the title “Bugonia” comes from
The term “Bugonia” derives from the Greek words bous (ox, cow) and genesis (birth) or gonos (offspring) and refers to an ancient belief about the reproduction of bees—that they could be generated from the carcass of a dead cow.
The story of Aristaeus in the Byzantine agricultural text Geoponica became the archetype of this ritual, serving as guidance for beekeepers on how to recover after losing their bees.
The title choice likely ties into the profession of Plemons’ character in the film, since “Teddy” is a beekeeper.
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