Academy Award winners Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz addressed international media on Tuesday at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival ahead of the world premiere of Florian Zeller’s psychological thriller Bunker.

Screening in the main competition for the Golden Lion, the film marks the first time Bardem and Cruz have played a married couple on screen. Directed and written by Zeller (The Father, The Son), Bunker follows Miguel (Bardem), an acclaimed architect who accepts a confidential, lucrative commission from a tech billionaire (Paul Dano) to build an underground survival shelter. The decision exposes ideological fractures within his 17-year marriage to Sofia (Cruz), a literary editor who begins questioning his values and the ethics of the assignment. The ensemble cast includes Stephen Graham, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Mark Gatiss, and Eileen Atkins.

Zeller stated during the press conference that the premise was inspired by news reports detailing Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg’s private compound in Hawaii. The director highlighted the paradox of a tech executive built on social connectivity constructing a subterranean retreat to isolate from society.

During the panel, Bardem addressed questions regarding actors engaging with socio-political matters outside their craft. The actor stated that artists and citizens alike have the right to express their perspectives, noting that public platforms carry an added civic responsibility to foster empathy and counter societal dehumanization rather than remaining isolated.

Cruz spoke on gender representation within the entertainment sector, reflecting on her attraction to complex, nuanced screen characters. She addressed the historical underrepresentation of female decision-makers in high-level leadership positions, while expressing confidence that younger generations are demonstrating greater political engagement and awareness.

Following its Venice bow, Bunker is scheduled to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival. Sony Pictures Classics holds distribution rights for North America, planning an awards-qualifying release in late 2026 ahead of a wider theatrical rollout in early 2027.