The Venice Film Festival is about to reveal its 2026 lineup, promising a plethora of buzzy titles from international directors.
Like Cannes this year, Venice is expected to have a lighter Hollywood presence than in previous editions. But that does not mean there won’t be a robust roster of awards contenders.
As previously announced, the festival will open with the world premiere of Danny Boyles “Ink,” which will also compete for the festival’s prestigious Golden Lion. The 1960s-set biographical drama stars Guy Pearce as divisive business magnate Rupert Murdoch and Jack O’Connell as Larry Lamb, the editor of Murdoch-owned U.K. tabloid The Sun. Netflix recently acquired the U.S. rights to the film.
Closing Venice this year is “Dio Ride,” the latest work from Italian filmmaker Giovanni Veronesi, in the out of competition section. The film, whose title translates to “God Laughs,” stars Pierfrancesco Favino (“Maria,” “World War Z”) as a friar in 17th-century Tuscany who manages to speak about God in a more joyful way. However, his light-hearted approach provokes the hostility of the church.
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“The Bride” and “The Lost Daughter” director Maggie Gyllenhaal is set to preside over the competition jury, the third woman to do so in the past five years following Isabelle Huppert, Julianne Moore and Cate Blanchett. She will be joined by Hong Kong filmmaking giant Johnnie To, Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, Afghan filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat, French director and screenwriter Xavier Giannoli, “The Brutalist” composer Daniel Blumberg and U.S.-based Italian film academic Francesco Casetti.
George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn will be honored with lifetime achievement awards.
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The 83rd Venice Film Festival runs from Sept. 2 to 12.
See the full lineup below, updating live.
COMPETITION
“Ink,” Danny Boyle (opening film)
VENICE OPEN (OUT OF COMPETITION — FICTION)
“Dio Ride,” Giovanni Veronesi (closing film)
OUT OF COMPETITION — NON-FICTION
FILMS ON FILMS
OUT OF COMPETITION — SHORTS
OUT OF COMPETITION — SERIES
HORIZONS
Elsa Keslassy contributed to this report.