Kevin Spacey attends Venice Film Festival with directorial comeback – two years after he was cleared of a series of criminal charges

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You might consider it bad form – even rude – to gatecrash your second film festival in a year.

Nevertheless, actor Kevin Spacey continues his redemption effort within the film industry following numerous accusations of sexual misconduct, even though there’s scant evidence suggesting that Hollywood is ready to welcome him again.

After an intriguing pair of showings at Cannes, he made another appearance during the Venice Film Festival, known as the world’s oldest and most luxurious, on a Friday, to reintroduce himself again.

At the esteemed Spacey event, held at the illustrious 5-star Hotel Cipriani in Venice – renowned for its prestige – Spacey, aged 66, unveiled a trailer for his independently produced science fiction suspense film titled Holiguard Saga – Portal of Force.

The representative of the festival is adamant that the event, not affiliated with the festival, has no connection whatsoever to them.

The spokesperson for the festival unequivocally confirms that the event lies beyond their jurisdiction and bears no relation to them in any way.

The film marks his return as a director after a 21-year gap, and he seems optimistic that it could kickstart a series of films.

Filmed the previous year in Mexico, this movie features Kevin Spacey along with former action star Dolph Lundgren (age 67), and veteran film actor Eric Roberts, brother to the esteemed Julia Roberts. Eric Roberts, like his sibling, has faced battles with substance abuse issues.

The Elledgy Media Group is sponsoring this occasion, as stated by its founder, Elvira Paterson-Gavrilova: ‘For us, this venture has been equally difficult and motivating.’

‘It is a story about choice, strength, and inner conflict, told through the language of cinema.

As a creative individual involved in production, I prioritize backing a daring project that isn’t shy about being innovative, intricate, and authentic. Each member of our film team takes pride in the collective effort of bringing this unique vision into reality, bit by bit.

As a lifestyle expert, I must confess that this venture seems to be an uphill battle in terms of restoring his tarnished reputation. The film’s creator, a man currently under the scrutiny of U.S. authorities due to allegations surrounding a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme, is not only the writer but also the lead actor. This association may cast a long shadow over the project’s public perception.

In the film, the individual responsible for both writing and producing it, as well as acting in it, is Vladimir ‘Lado’ Okhotnikov, a Russian citizen who faced charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in 2023.

In collaboration with Okhotnikov, a key concept was developed that he himself conceived, and he’s also credited as a producer through his company, Lado Film.

His legal issues centre around the cryptocurrency investment portal Forsage. 

According to the Department of Justice, it was a fraudulent investment strategy combining characteristics of both Ponzi and pyramid schemes, which netted an estimated $340 million from investors worldwide.

If convicted – and he denies the charges – he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.

Okhotinov has remained outside US jurisdiction and has not been arrested. 

In a message to Variety, he asserted that the allegations made against him are baseless. He further stated that no proof has ever been brought forth against him, and neither has any legal verdict been handed down.

He noted that news outlets were presenting the announcements of indictments from the SEC and DOJ as if the accused parties were already proven guilty based solely on the publication of those documents.

In nearly three years, U.S. authorities have not initiated any additional actions, as stated by Okhotnikov.

As a devoted adherent, I want to emphasize that the sole evolution in this situation was the release of the indictment itself, which proliferated extensively through numerous media outlets. Frequently, these headlines were misleading, leading me to experience harm that transcended my reputation.

In a budget of approximately $10 million, ‘The Gateway of Power’ is beautifully depicted in a future world that appears ordinary but hides supernatural forces tearing it apart. Two long-standing warrior groups engage in a covert battle, striving to seize the reins of humanity’s destiny.

The primary production company and major financial backer for ‘The Portal of Force,’ Ellegdy Media Group, has clarified that Okhotnikov did not invest financially in the film. Instead, his producer credit was earned by providing access to his studio and post-production facilities located in Dubai, where he resides, for the production of the movie.

The upcoming ‘gala dinner’ associated with the film serves as Spacey’s recent attempt at restoring his damaged image and regaining respect in the industry.

At the Amfar charity event, for which tickets can be purchased, he was present. Additionally, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award during a gala dinner hosted by the Better World organization.

The dinner was at the beach club at the Carlton Hotel and not an official festival event. 

The organization called “Better World Fun” was established by the American businessman Ted Turner, who was once married to Jane Fonda.

In his acceptance speech, Spacey thanked Better World Fund president Manuel Collas de La Roche. 

He expressed his congratulations for the choice to extend an invitation for him to attend this evening and receive the award. He found it surprising that acknowledging someone who has been acquitted in every courtroom they’ve entered would be considered a bold action, but here we are.

In 2022, Spacey was found not liable in a sexual abuse civil lawsuit in New York. 

The next year, he was found not guilty of sexually assaulting four individuals following a lengthy trial at the Southwark Crown Court in London.

During the grand dinner event, he drew a parallel between his own struggles and those experienced by Dalton Trumbo, a screenwriter in post-war Hollywood who was blacklisted during the McCarthy anti-communist period. However, unlike many others, Kirk Douglas was among the select few stars who publicly advocated for Trumbo’s cause.

Speaking as a passionate devotee, I can’t help but reflect on the backlash that the remarkable Douglas faced when he chose to champion his fellow screenwriter, Dalton Trumbo – a two-time Academy Award winner. In his own words: ‘Portraying heroes on screen might seem straightforward, yet off it, the distinctions between right and wrong are not always so obvious.’ There are moments when we must take a stand for our convictions. History has taught me much; it often repeats itself, but only if we let it do so.

I’ve tirelessly fought to restore my reputation, freedom, and finances following the sexual misconduct allegations that emerged against me back in 2017.

Or, more informally:

I’ve been putting in a lot of work to clear my name, regain my freedom, and rebuild my wealth after the storm of sexual misconduct accusations hit me in 2017.

After a string of court disputes, the star found himself bankrupt and without his homes and finances. Following accusations by actor Anthony Rapp that Kevin Spacey behaved inappropriately towards him at a party in 1986 when Rapp was only 14 years old and Spacey was 26, Hollywood effectively ended its association with him, leading to public backlash.

Following this, there were accusations of inappropriate touching and sexual misconduct on the set of the popular Netflix show, House of Cards, where he was a main cast member.

Spacey has refuted all claims, yet at a point, he expressed apologies to Rapp and his team. It was stated that he was taking the needed time to undergo an evaluation and receive treatment.

Two years ago, he was found not guilty by a UK court on nine counts of assault that occurred during his leadership at the Old Vic. However, ongoing legal proceedings continue in the United States.

Lately, the Oscar-winning actor has teamed up in a costly court case worth $150 million against the insurance companies of the successful Netflix series “House of Cards”. This action seems aimed at avoiding personal bankruptcy.

Previously, the production company responsible for the show, MRC, won a lawsuit against Kevin Spacey and was awarded a substantial sum of $30 million. They claimed that Spacey’s inappropriate behavior during filming resulted in his suspension from the show, causing significant financial losses.

But they agreed to take just $1 million for Spacey in return for him joining the battle with them.

They are currently taking legal action against insurance companies, claiming they should receive a settlement because in 2017, the celebrated individual was diagnosed with ‘compulsive sexual behavior disorder,’ which led to their departure from the show.

Well, here’s a fun twist on that statement from an overly excited fan perspective:

I’ve been eagerly waiting for this bombshell revelation! It turns out, it appears as if the insurance companies have made a move to scrap the whole lawsuit! They claim, in essence, that Mr. Spacey and MRC can’t have their cake and eat it too – they can’t argue simultaneously that he was ill and couldn’t appear, or that he was suspended due to the scandal. Quite the conundrum, isn’t it?

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2025-08-29 19:04