Sofia Coppola’s new documentary on Marc Jacobs premieres at Venice Film Festival

Sofia Coppola’s documentary on Marc Jacobs debuted at the Venice Film Festival.

Sofia Coppola’s latest documentary, Marc by Sofia, premiered at the 82nd Venice Film Festival in September 2025, drawing attention from both the film and fashion worlds.

The documentary provides an intimate portrait of fashion designer Marc Jacobs, exploring his creative process, personal journey, and the inspirations behind his iconic work.

Speaking at the Venice press conference, Coppola admitted the project initially felt intimidating.

“When they asked me to do a film on Marc, I thought, ‘No, I can’t do that. It’s too much pressure. [It] would have to be good, because he’s my friend and I love him.’ Then I kept thinking about going through the archives… we’ve been friends for 30 years, and it would be fun to revisit his incredible body of work that I grew up with.”

She added that the process reminded her of early filmmaking experiences with her brother: “Just my brother and me and a camera and a sound person, it was kind of made in the spirit of the way I started, and I wanted this homemade, personal look.”

Coppola also emphasized the balance she wanted to achieve: “I wanted it to feel personal, but I didn’t want it to be about me. I wanted to have a sense of our friendship, that it was being made by a friend, through my point of view… I wanted the audience to feel included, never like it was an inside joke they weren’t part of.”

Jacobs, who first met Coppola in the early ’90s, praised her approach: “It was very easy to say yes to Sofia. I feel very comfortable… I was excited by her attitude and approach to a documentary, which wasn’t conventional. It was much more organic and natural.”

He also addressed his candor in discussing personal topics such as drugs, plastic surgery, and leaving New York: “I just find it benefits me not to feel shame, and the only way to do that is to be frank and open. I knew this wasn’t going to be a Barbara Walters interview… that wasn’t what we were doing.”

Coppola, known for her films Lost in Translation and Marie Antoinette, expressed her love for fashion as a source of inspiration and connection to younger audiences.

She noted that while she doesn’t plan to make more documentaries, the experience was “fun” and “stimulating.”

The film has been praised for its intimate, conversational style and is expected to be a highlight of festival discussions, appealing to both fashion enthusiasts and cinema lovers alike.