Robert Pattinson’s ‘Primetime’ gets 7-minute standing ovation at Venice Film Festival

Robert Pattinson’s new film ‘Primetime’ has received a seven-minute standing ovation following its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

Lance Oppenheim’s film, in which Pattinson plays ‘To Catch a Predator’ host Chris Hansen, screened in competition at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on Friday, September 5.

Pattinson walked the red carpet with director Oppenheim, with partner Suki Waterhouse among those cheering during the reception. The crowd also applauded Oppenheim and musician Phoebe Bridgers, who makes her acting debut in the film.

Directed by Oppenheim in his narrative feature debut, ‘Primetime’ is inspired by Luke Dittrich’s 2007 Esquire article “Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die” and dramatises the making of To Catch a Predator, the controversial NBC series in which Hansen confronted men accused of attempting to meet minors online.

The film focuses on the machinery behind the television phenomenon and the ambitions of the people who helped turn the sting operations into prime-time entertainment.