At a masterclass during the Venice Film Festival, director Luc Besson revealed he is currently writing a new science-fiction project, describing it as so ambitious that audiences "will need a ticket and an aspirin". Besson, whose sci-fi credits include "The Fifth Element" and "Valerian", reflected on how filmmaking technology has evolved dramatically over his career and said he is not concerned by advances such as artificial intelligence, comparing it to a tool that a director must simply learn to control.

Besson also discussed "Father Joe", which he wrote and produced for Venice this year, starring Kiefer Sutherland and Al Pacino, as well as his recent film "Dracula: A Love Tale" with Caleb Landry Jones. He shared behind-the-scenes stories about earlier works including "Léon: The Professional" and a Madonna music video he shot for "Love Profusion", and briefly addressed past sexual assault allegations against him, of which he was cleared, saying filmmaking remains his life's purpose.