The 83rd Venice Film Festival is set to open Wednesday, showcasing a lineup dominated by independent films, documentaries, and notable actors, while notably lacking major Hollywood studio and streaming platform entries. The festival, held on the Venetian Lido, will run through September 12 and highlight a diverse range of cinematic voices and stories.
Danny Boyle, renowned for “Trainspotting” and “Slumdog Millionaire,” will inaugurate the main competition with “Ink,” a biographical drama about media mogul Rupert Murdoch. The film explores Murdoch’s early days in the UK media scene, specifically his 1969 acquisition of The Sun tabloid. At 95, Murdoch remains a significant figure in global media, recently depicted in the HBO series “Succession,” and continues to attract attention for his influence on the industry.
Documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney, known for works addressing military abuses and corruption, enters the fray with “Musk,” a nearly four-hour film focusing on Elon Musk, the world’s richest person. The documentary has already sparked controversy, with Musk labeling it a "hit piece" on social media platform X.
Among the festival’s star-studded participants, Robert Pattinson stands out. The actor, known for “The Batman” and “The Odyssey,” appears in “Primetime,” directed by Lance Oppenheim. The film dramatizes the story behind the American TV show “To Catch a Predator,” with Pattinson portraying presenter Chris Hansen. Hollywood veteran George Clooney and actress Ellen Burstyn will be honored with lifetime achievement Golden Lion awards.
The absence of American studios and major streamers such as Netflix and Amazon marks a continuation of a broader trend seen across Europe’s top film festivals in 2026, including Berlin and Cannes, where these companies have also minimized their presence. Their decision leaves the spotlight largely on the festival’s independent and arthouse offerings.
Among the indie highlights are Ireland’s Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy “Wild Horse Nine,” featuring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell; Casey Affleck’s “Company;” and “Bucking Fastard,” a German production by Werner Herzog starring sisters Kate Mara and Rooney Mara. Asian cinema is well represented with Japan’s Hirokazu Koreeda presenting “Look Back” and South Korea’s Lee Chang-dong with “Possible Love,” both competing in the main competition.
The festival will also feature a documentary on British rock legends Noel and Liam Gallagher titled “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” Produced by Steven Knight, creator of “Peaky Blinders,” the film offers a behind-the-scenes view of the Gallagher brothers’ sold-out comeback tour last year.
Gender representation remains a contentious issue at this year’s festival. Venice Film Festival director Alberto Barbera faced criticism after initially selecting only one film directed by a woman among the 20 main competition entries: “Woman Unknown” by May El-Toukhy. Barbera defended the decision, citing the quality of submissions. However, the recent addition of “NAZA,” co-directed by a woman, has slightly improved gender balance.
For fans of Spanish cinema, a highlight is “Bunker,” directed by Florian Zeller and starring real-life couple Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem. The film explores the complexities of a troubled marriage challenged by a high-stakes professional project involving a billionaire character played by Paul Dano.
The Venice Film Festival continues to offer a platform for diverse storytelling and cinematic innovation, even as the absence of Hollywood's major players reshapes expectations for the event.