Noah Baumbach returns to Venice Film Festival with Jay Kelly, earns 10-minute ovation

Jay Kelly is the latest directorial work of Noah Baumbach.

The coming-of-age comedy drama is written by him and Emily Mortimer. It's produced by Baumbach, Amy Pascal, and David Heyman. The official synopsis of the film, as per Letterboxd, is:

"Famous movie actor Jay Kelly and his devoted manager Ron embark on a whirlwind and unexpectedly profound journey through Europe. Along the way, both men are forced to confront the choices they've made, their relationships with their loved ones, and the legacies they'll leave behind."

Ahead of the film's Netflix release on December 5 this year, the film had its world premiere at the 2025 Venice Film Festival.

Jay Kelly gets a 10-minute standing ovation at Venice Film Festival

Jay Kelly had its world premiere on August 28, 2025, at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. The film received a ten-minute-long standing ovation from the audience at the Sala Grande. George Clooney was present to attend the red carpet and screening. The film also received a nomination for the Golden Lion, the highest honor at the festival.

Jay Kelly features an ensemble cast that consists of the following names:

Adam Sandler as Ron Sukenick
Laura Dern as Liz
Billy Crudup as Timothy
Patrick Wilson
Riley Keough as Jessica Kelly
Grace Edwards as Daisy Kelly
Stacy Keach as Jay's father
Eve Hewson
Greta Gerwig as Lois Sukenick
Jim Broadbent as director

In an interview with Deadline, Noah Baumbach spoke about the story and said:

“We discovered soon that if you make a movie about an actor, you’re making a movie about identity and performance and a search for self. Actors are always sort of trying to find themselves in a character, and where do I fit in this character, but it’s a character outside themselves. And I think that was something that we thought, well, this is what we’re all doing. Essentially, as we go through life, it’s trying to figure out the person I present, and is that the person I am, or am I somebody else?”

Adam Sandler told the outlet that he had respect for the members of his entourage even before he bagged the film.

"I just know how hard they work and how difficult it is to hear my ups and downs in life and back me up no matter what, even when I could get loud at times."

The film will be released in selected cinema halls on November 14, 2025. It will make its streaming premiere on Netflix on December 5.