Venice Film Festival opens Sept. 2

The 83rd Venice Film Festival opened on Wednesday, Sept. 2, on the Lido di Venezia with the world premiere of Danny Boyle’s “Ink,” the first film to screen in competition at this year’s edition. Festival organizer La Biennale di Venezia said the event runs through Sept. 12 under artistic director Alberto Barbera, with screenings and public events spread across the Lido’s main venues. George Clooney was honored at the opening ceremony with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, adding a major star turn to the festival’s first night. ### Why did Danny Boyle’s “Ink” open the festival? La Biennale di Venezia announced that “Ink” was selected as the opening film of the 2026 festival and would premiere in competition on opening night. The film is directed by Boyle, written by James Graham and stars Jack O’Connell, Guy Pearce and Claire Foy, according to the festival announcement. (labiennale.org) The Associated Press reported that “Ink” centers on Rupert Murdoch’s acquisition of the British tabloid The Sun, giving the opening night selection an overtly political and media-industry subject. Boyle appeared on the opening-day carpet with cast members including O’Connell, Pearce and Foy. ### What did George Clooney receive on opening night? (labiennale.org) George Clooney received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement during the opening ceremony on Sept. 2, festival coverage and opening-day reports said. The award had been flagged in festival previews as one of the defining events of the opening night program. Opening-day photos from Venice showed Clooney posing with the Golden Lion alongside Amal Clooney on the red carpet. (apnews.com) AP images and festival coverage placed the award presentation at the ceremony that formally started the 11-day event. ### What else set the tone on the first day? Maggie Gyllenhaal, serving as jury president, said on Sept. 2 that films are “unavoidably political” when asked about cinema’s relationship to current events. (apnews.com) Variety reported that questions at the jury press conference were shaped by the wars in Gaza and Ukraine and unrest in the United States. (ksat.com) Reuters, in a separate report, said Gyllenhaal also spoke about barriers facing women directors, while Alberto Barbera defended the competition lineup against questions about representation. Those comments gave the festival’s opening day a political and industry-focused frame beyond the red carpet arrivals. ### How long does the festival run, and where is it happening? (variety.com) The 2026 edition runs from Sept. 2 through Sept. 12 at venues on the Venice Lido, according to La Biennale and NBC’s festival explainer. NBC described Venice as one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals and a key early stop in the fall movie-awards calendar. (wsau.com) Festival coverage from opening day showed arrivals, screenings and ceremonies centered on the Palazzo del Cinema and other Lido locations, where the festival traditionally stages its competition premieres and press events. The opening-night schedule combined the ceremony, Clooney’s honor and the debut of Boyle’s film. (nbclosangeles.com) ### What happens next over the next 10 days? Sept. 12 is the scheduled closing date for the 83rd edition, with daily screenings continuing in Venice until then, according to festival organizers and NBC’s guide. The official program launched with opening night, and the competition now moves into its regular cycle of premieres, press conferences and jury appearances on the Lido. (ksat.com) NBC’s explainer said the festival serves as an early showcase for films and performances heading into the fall season, while opening-day reports showed major international stars already arriving in Venice. The next milestone is the festival’s closing ceremony on Sept. 12, when the jury led by Gyllenhaal is due to hand out this year’s prizes. (nbclosangeles.com) (labiennale.org)