The 83rd Venice Film Festival is set to open on September 2, 2026, with a lineup blending high-profile premieres, star-studded casts, and a mix of documentary and narrative films from around the world. The festival, held on the Lido in Venice, will again position itself as one of the major European film events, emphasizing both glamour and diverse cinematic perspectives under the direction of longtime artistic director Alberto Barbera.
The festival will open with "Ink," a dramatic portrayal of Rupert Murdoch’s 1969 acquisition of the British newspaper The Sun. Directed by Danny Boyle, the film stars Guy Pearce as Murdoch and features a script by Olivier-winning playwright James Graham. This is among several films this year that focus on influential media figures. Also screening is a four-hour documentary, "Musk," by Alex Gibney, which explores the life and influence of Elon Musk, one of the world’s most prominent billionaires and owner of the social media platform X. "Musk" will be shown out of competition.
In the main competition slate, Martin McDonagh returns with "Wild Horse Nine," a dark comedy about two CIA agents operating in Chile just before the 1973 military coup led by Augusto Pinochet. Starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, this film reunites McDonagh with familiar actors such as Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits, and Parker Posey. Also competing is "Primetime," featuring Robert Pattinson as Chris Hansen, host of the TV show "To Catch a Predator," which delves into themes of media and justice.
The program includes several internationally acclaimed directors and actors. Florian Zeller’s thriller "Bunker" stars real-life couple Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem as a married pair invited by a wealthy patron to design a nuclear bomb–proof building. Werner Herzog’s "Bucking Fastard" casts sisters Rooney and Kate Mara as identical twins on an adventurous mission. Hirokazu Kore-eda’s "Look Back" offers a coming-of-age tale about aspiring manga artists, while Lee Chang-dong contributes with the drama "Possible Love." Casey Affleck will compete for the first time with "Company," co-starring Nick Nolte and Ben Mendelsohn, and Danish-Egyptian director May El-Toukhy is the sole female director in competition with her drama "Woman Unknown," marking a decrease from the previous year’s number of female contenders.
Among notable documentaries outside of competition are "Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger," directed by Barbara Kopple and reflecting on the iconic British band’s reunion, with Liam and Noel Gallagher confirmed in attendance. Filmmakers Russell Crowe and Laura Poitras present, respectively, "What Love Builds," a concert film about Crowe’s band Indoor Garden Party, and "They’re Here," an investigative short co-directed with Rachel Lauren Mueller that examines ICE’s activities in Minneapolis. Ilya Khrzhanovsky returns with a new installment from his DAU project, described as a "Stalinist Truman Show," while Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa brings "Imperium," exploring Soviet-era propaganda.
Esteemed industry figures George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn will receive lifetime achievement awards, with Burstyn also appearing in a short film by Maggie Gyllenhaal, who chairs the jury. The festival continues to balance popular appeal with artistic and political engagement, offering a comprehensive snapshot of contemporary world cinema.