Marilyn Monroe's centenary film premieres at Venice festival

To mark Marilyn Monroe's 100th birthday, a short film will premiere at this year's Venice film festival. Entitled Flesh Impact, the film has been written and directed by a team that, according to the Guardian, traces a genealogical connection between the screen icon and actress Dakota Johnson, described as Monroe's ninth cousin three times removed.

The Venice premiere places the film at the heart of the festival circuit, where Italian cinema and international productions alike compete for attention. The Guardian's coverage frames the announcement within a broader vogue for celebrity ancestry, noting that the trend can be traced back to Robert Pattinson descending from Dracula and Benedict Cumberbatch being related to just about everyone.