Jake Gyllenhaal, Keira Knightley's 'Everest' to head Venice Film Festival

VENICE, Italy, July 9 (UPI) -- Survival epic Everest, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Keira Knightley has been chosen to launch the 72nd Venice Film Festival in Sept..

The film, directed by Icelander Baltasar Kormakur, follows the 1996 true story of two expeditions on Mt. Everest hit by one of the most powerful snowstorms ever documented. The climbers battle mountainous elements including lack of oxygen, freezing weather and harsh terrain in order to survive their way down the mountain and overcome the obstacles set before them.

Also starring Robin Wright, Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington and Emily Watson, the Universal Pictures film was shot on-location in Nepal, Italy and the U.K.

The Venice International Film Festival will take place from Sept. 2-12 in Italy. It is organized by La Biennale di Venezia and has been running for 72 years. The remaining lineup for the event will be announced at a press conference on July 29 in Rome, according to the festival's website.

After its world premier at the festival on Sept. 2, Everest will open exclusively in IMAX 3D and large format 3D screens on Sept. 18 before its wide release on Sept. 25.