Venice opens with Danny Boyle's Ink

Danny Boyle’s “Ink” opened the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on Wednesday, giving the Lido an opening-night premiere built around a film about British tabloid power and Rupert Murdoch’s rise. La Biennale di Venezia said the festival runs from September 2 to September 12, with “Ink” screening in competition as the first major event of this year’s edition. George Clooney was also due to receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the opening ceremony, adding a second marquee moment to the festival’s first day. ### Why is “Ink” such a pointed opening-night choice? La Biennale said “Ink” is a world-premiere competition title directed by Boyle, written by James Graham and starring Jack O’Connell, Guy Pearce and Claire Foy. The festival’s official announcement described the film as the opening title of the 83rd edition, placing it at the center of Venice’s first night. (labiennale.org) Variety reported that “Ink” is an exposé of how British tabloid The Sun helped propel Murdoch’s rise as a right-wing media baron. That subject matter meant the opening film arrived with politics already embedded in the festival’s program before the first awards were handed out. ### What did Maggie Gyllenhaal say before the screenings began? (labiennale.org) Maggie Gyllenhaal said at the opening press conference on September 2 that films are “inherently political,” according to Variety and Reuters. Her remarks came as journalists asked the main competition jury about cinema’s role at a moment shaped by the war in Gaza, the war in Ukraine and unrest in the United States. (variety.com) Reuters also reported that Gyllenhaal said women directors continue to face “systemic” barriers in the film industry. The Hollywood Reporter separately reported that she addressed the low number of women directors in competition, calling it a systemic problem. ### Where does George Clooney fit into opening day? George Clooney was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement by the Venice festival’s board on the recommendation of artistic director Alberto Barbera, La Biennale said. (variety.com) The official festival notice identified Clooney as the recipient of the 83rd edition’s career honor. Laura Dern was scheduled to deliver the laudatio for Clooney at the opening ceremony in the Sala Grande of the Palazzo del Cinema starting at 7 p.m. on September 2, according to La Biennale. (msn.com) Variety also reported ahead of the event that Clooney’s honor would be one of the defining moments of opening night. (labiennale.org) ### What does the festival calendar look like from here? The 83rd Venice International Film Festival is running on the Lido di Venezia from September 2 through September 12, La Biennale said on its official festival page. The event is organized by La Biennale di Venezia and directed by Alberto Barbera. The next phase is straightforward: competition titles continue screening across the 11-day festival, while the opening-night spotlight on Boyle, Gyllenhaal and Clooney gives way to the rest of the lineup on the Lido through September 12. (labiennale.org 1) (labiennale.org 2)