Five Italian films will be in the running for the Golden Lion at the 79th Venice Film Festival, which runs from August 31 to September 10, organizers said Tuesday. They are Il Signore delle Formiche (The Lord of the Ants) by Gianni Amelio, Bone and All by Luca Guadagnino, Chiara by Susanna Nicchiarelli, Monica by Andrea Pallaoro and Emanuele Crialese’s L’Immensita’ (Immensity) starring Penelope Cruz.

The Golden Lion  is the highest prize given to a film at the Venice Film Festival, which was founded in 1932. The prize was introduced in 1949 by the organizing committee and is now regarded as one of the film industry’s most prestigious and distinguished prizes.