SPOTLIGHT | Catch ‘The Nun II’ and ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3’ out in cinemas; best of Venice Film Festival

The demon nun Valak is back to reign terror in ‘The Nun II’; our favourite Greek family reunite for the third instalment of ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’; and ‘Ferrari’ drives the crowd wild at the world's oldest movie festival

08 September 2023 - 06:38
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now

Spotlight is our entertainment bite-sized snapshot featuring new entertainment releases in SA, exclusive film trailers and much more. New episodes are out every Thursday on Sunday Times Lifestyle, Sowetan Entertainment and on YouTube, plus you can follow Spotlight on Facebook.

Watch all episodes

Click here to find previous episodes of Spotlight with all the movie news you need and follow Spotlight on Facebook for all the latest news and giveaways

This week’s Spotlight episode dishes out dread and delight in equal measure with two hugely popular franchise movies. We also bring you a somewhat muted, but ever-prestigious, Venice Film Festival. 

Horror fans are in for a terrifying treat as The Nun II hits cinema screens. A sequel to The Nun and the ninth instalment in The Conjuring universe franchise, the gothic horror follows sister Irene as she once again faces her nemesis, the demon nun Valak, at a French boarding school in 1956. Directed by Michael Chaves and starring Bonnie Aarons (Valak), Taissa Farmiga (Vera Farmiga’s sister) and Kately Rose Downey, The Nun II is also available on IMAX, D-BOX and 4DX. 

For some light relief, catch My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3also out on the big screen. The beloved Portokalos family reunite in Greece to fulfil a promise to the patriarch of the family and reconnect with their roots. Nia Vardalos returns as director and lead character, alongside boisterous Lainie Kazan, John Corbett, Andrea Martin and Joey Fatone for the third act of this delightful romcom franchise.  

The 80th Venice Film Festival is on, but the turnout from Tinseltown talent has been subdued under the cloud of the Hollywood writers’ strike. The opportunity for smaller films to get their turn in the spotlight is a welcome consequence however, and titles such as Comandante and Society of the Snow have taken centre stage.  

Despite an empty red carpet, the film festival kicked off with a bang with Michael Mann’s new film FerrariStarring Adam Driver as race-car icon Enzo Ferrari, Penélope Cruz, Shailene Woodley and Patrick Dempsey, it received a seven-and-a-half minute standing ovation. Another highlight was Hong Kong film star Tony Leung Chiu-wai receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award.   

For full interviews, breaking news, trailers and clips, visit our Spotlight Facebook page. See you at the movies!

Presenter Collette Prince is styled and dressed by Claris by Gerrit Pienaar when attending premieres and special events.

Facebook @Claris by Gerrit Pienaar/Instagram: gerritpienaardesigns.

Competition giveaway: The Nun II merchandise hampers

Warner Bros Pictures is offering an exclusive The Nun II movie merchandise hampers.

To stand in line to win these hampers, answer the competition questions via the Spotlight Facebook page, and DM your answers and contact details on or before September 8 2023.

Terms and conditions apply.

Winners will be drawn randomly and notified by SMS after the competition has closed. Entrants’ personal details will not be retained for marketing purposes. Winners have to provide proof of age (ID/driver’s licence) and cover their own travel and accommodation expenses. By entering participants agree to have their names published on TimesLIVE, SowetanLIVE and Spotlight South Africa on Facebook. Employees of Arena Holdings and their family members are not eligible to enter.



subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now