Jake Gyllenhaal's 'Everest' Opens 72nd Venice Film Festival

It seems Jake Gyllenhaal is the one to watch this upcoming awards season. The 34-year-old's drama "Everest" will open the 72nd annual Venice Film Festival, it was announced Wednesday. And a day earlier it was revealed that his film "Demolition" will kick off the Toronto International Film Festival.

But the Oscar race appears to be more favorable for Gyllenhaal with his disaster flick "Everest" getting the coveted lead spot at the Venice Film Festival, which runs Sept. 2-12. For the past two years the fest's opening films have gone on to receive Best Picture Oscar nominations; last year it was "Birdman," which won, and in 2014 "Gravity" earned a nod in the category.

"Everest" sees him opposite Keira Knightley and Robin Wright in the true story that chronicles the survival of climbers trapped on the peak of Mount Everest during a 1996 snow storm. Co-starring Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington and Emily Watson, the film hits theaters on Sept. 18.

Also joining the lineup is a mixed bag of action, drama, thrillers, animation and more. "Gravity" director Alfonso Cuaron heads the jury, of which 21 films are in competition, along with actresses Elizabeth Banks and Diane Kruger on the panel.

"The program is very varied," festival artistic director Alberto Barbera told reporters. "The line-up goes from small films which are almost experimental to documentaries and great auteur films as well as great films which seek to innovate the forms used in contemporary cinema. All in all, there's a bit of everything."

Among the highlights of the Venice Film Festival:

"Equals," starring Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult.

"Beasts of No Nation," starring Idris Elba.

"The Danish Girl," starring Eddie Redmayne.

"Black Mass," starring Johnny Depp.

"Go with Me," starring Anthony Hopkins, Julia Stiles and Ray Liotta.

"Spotlight," starring Michael Keaton and Mark Ruffalo.

Stop-motion flick "Anomalisa."

Martin Scorsese's short film "The Audition," starring Robert de Niro, Leonardo Di Caprio and Brad Pitt.

Watch the trailer for "Everest" below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyEjUV-q47o