A biographical film about media mogul Rupert Murdoch, directed by Danny Boyle and starring Guy Pearce, will compete for the Golden Lion at the upcoming Venice Film Festival, organizers announced Thursday. The film, titled “Ink,” is among 20 movies selected for competition at the festival’s 83rd edition, scheduled for September 2 to 12 on Italy’s Lido island.
“Ink” is based on a 2017 play and is set in 1969, focusing on a young Murdoch’s efforts to acquire The Sun newspaper and transform it into a provocative British tabloid that would become a cornerstone of his media empire. Pearce portrays Murdoch, while Jack O’Connell plays Larry Lamb, the editor Murdoch hires to lead the publication.
The festival lineup includes films from a number of notable directors. Martin McDonagh returns with “Wild Horse Nine,” a story set on Easter Island in 1973 that follows two CIA operatives, played by John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, who become enmeshed in the lives of local residents. This marks McDonagh’s collaboration with Rockwell for the third time, following their work together on “Seven Psychopaths” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” McDonagh’s previous film, “The Banshees of Inisherin,” earned nine Academy Award nominations in 2023.
Other films in competition include “Primetime” by Lance Oppenheim, featuring Robert Pattinson as Chris Hansen, the host behind the “To Catch a Predator” television series. Werner Herzog’s “Bucking Fastard” stars Kate and Rooney Mara as twin sisters on a fantastical quest for love. Casey Affleck directs “Company,” an ensemble piece set during a holiday party in 1975, with Nick Nolte, Adelaide Clemens, and Ben Mendelsohn among the cast. Korean filmmaker Lee Changdong presents “Possible Love,” exploring the contrasting lives of two married couples. Additionally, Hirokazu Kore-eda contributes “Look Back,” an adaptation of a manga about the friendship of two aspiring manga artists.
Maggie Gyllenhaal, an actress and filmmaker, will serve as the jury president for the Golden Lion award. Aside from the main competition, the festival will showcase premieres from Paul Schrader and Takashi Miike, alongside an Alex Gibney documentary focused on Elon Musk.