Al Pacino Skips Venice Premiere, Sends Video Message for 'Father Joe'

Al Pacino was absent from the Venice Film Festival premiere of his latest film, 'Father Joe', but ensured his presence was felt through a heartfelt video message to the team.

In the message, the Oscar-winning actor expressed his regret at not being in Venice, a city he holds in high regard. "I wish I was there with all of you in Venice, which is great and lovely. I've had films there. I've been there. I've experienced it," he said.

Pacino also extended a special shoutout to writer-producer Luc Besson and co-star Kiefer Sutherland, wishing everyone a successful premiere.

Set in 1990s Manhattan's Little Italy, 'Father Joe' revolves around a priest who finds himself in conflict with a powerful mob boss. Sutherland plays the titular Father Joe, described as a man of God who wages a secret war against crime rings. Pacino portrays the crime lord whose empire clashes with the priest's crusade. The cast also includes Ever Anderson, who plays a young woman caught between danger and redemption.

The film is written and produced by Besson and marks the directorial debut of Barthelemy Grossmann, who has called it a "modern fable about faith, redemption, and the complexity of human nature."

Sutherland, speaking about working with Besson, shared his admiration for the filmmaker, noting he had long wished to be in one of his projects.