The Birthday Party Film: First Look at Willem Dafoe’s New Drama
A new drama starring Willem Dafoe, titled The Birthday Party film, is making its grand entrance onto the global film stage. The film, directed by Miguel Ángel Jiménez, celebrated its world premiere on August 7, 2025, in the prestigious Piazza Grande section of the 78th Locarno Film Festival. This highly anticipated adaptation of a best-selling novel is now officially making its debut, and it’s already generating significant industry buzz.
Cast and Creative Team
The film features a compelling cast led by Oscar-nominated actor Willem Dafoe as Marcos Timoleon, a wealthy and powerful patriarch. He stars alongside Emma Suárez and up-and-coming talent like Vic Carmen Sonne and Joe Cole. The story is a dramatic adaptation of Panos Karnezis’s novel, co-written for the screen by director Miguel Ángel Jiménez, Giorgos Karnavas, and Nikos Panayotopoulos.
A Story of Decadence and Drama
Set in the late 1970s on a luxurious Mediterranean island, the plot centers on a billionaire who hosts a dramatic and tumultuous birthday celebration for his daughter. The film, which explores themes of power, family secrets, and decadence, promises to be an engaging cinematic experience.
Production & Festival Journey
The production for The Birthday Party was a truly international effort. Filming took place in beautiful locations across Corfu and Athens, with production wrapping up in mid-August 2024. The project is a co-production between Greece, Spain, the Netherlands, and the UK. After a successful presentation at the European Film Market (EFM) in February 2025, the film is now making its festival rounds. Following its premiere in Locarno, it is also scheduled to be screened in the Sarajevo Film Festival’s Open Air program.
With a stellar cast and a compelling plot adapted from a critically acclaimed novel, The Birthday Party is a film to watch. Its premiere at the 78th Locarno Film Festival marks the beginning of what is expected to be a successful run, and fans can look forward to more news as the film continues its journey toward a wider release.
