Entertainment
Venice Film Festival opens on Lido island with star-studded lineup and controversy
The 83rd annual event features highly anticipated Oscar contenders alongside debate over the inclusion of Russian-linked projects.
The short version
- The 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival runs from Wednesday through September 12 on the Lido barrier island in Italy.
- The opening night film is Danny Boyle's "Ink," with a star-studded attendance expected including George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn receiving lifetime achievement awards.
- Controversies are brewing, notably regarding the inclusion of Ilya Khrzhanovsky's film "DAU" and the selection of only one film in competition directed by a woman.
Key facts
- The Venice Film Festival, which began in 1932 as a non-competitive event, is the world's oldest film festival and is taking place on the Lido barrier island from Wednesday through September 12.[Associated Press]
- Danny Boyle's "Ink," starring Guy Pearce, Jack O'Connell, and Claire Foy, is set to open the festival on Wednesday night.[Associated Press]
- Actors George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn are scheduled to receive lifetime achievement awards during the festival.[Associated Press]
- Out of the 21 films in competition for the prestigious Golden Lion, only one film—May el-Toukhy's "Woman Unknown"—was directed by a woman.[Associated Press]
- Actor and filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal is presiding over the main competition jury, which will announce the award winners on the festival's final day.[Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- Ukrainian government ministries have disputed the inclusion of Ilya Khrzhanovsky's film "DAU," calling it a project linked to the Russian state and its networks of influence, while the filmmaker and festival director Alberto Barbera have rejected these claims, stating the film denounces totalitarian regimes.[Associated Press]
Sources
- Everything you need to know about the 2026 Venice Film FestivalAssociated Press