Venice Film Festival opens with Ink

The 83rd Venice Film Festival opened on Wednesday, Sept. 2, on the Lido in Venice with the world premiere of Danny Boyle’s “Ink,” the festival’s opening-night film. La Biennale di Venezia said the film screened in the Sala Grande at the Palazzo del Cinema after the opening ceremony, launching an 11-day run for the festival through Sept. 12. George Clooney was due to receive a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement during the same opening ceremony. La Biennale said the award to the American actor, director and producer was to be presented on Wednesday, with Laura Dern delivering the laudatio in the Sala Grande. Maggie Gyllenhaal, serving as jury president, brought politics into the festival’s opening-day conversation at a press conference hours before the ceremony. (labiennale.org) Asked about cinema’s role amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine and unrest in the United States, Gyllenhaal said films are “fundamentally, unavoidably political,” according to Variety. (labiennale.org) ### What is “Ink,” the film opening Venice? “Ink” is a 116-minute English-language drama directed by Boyle and written by James Graham, according to the festival program. La Biennale said the film is set in 1969 and centers on the launch of The Sun by Rupert Murdoch and Larry Lamb, describing it as a story about a newspaper that would help change Britain and Murdoch’s rise. (variety.com) Jack O’Connell, Guy Pearce and Claire Foy star in the film, which is screening in the main competition at Venice. Variety reported last month that Netflix acquired the film for North America and Latin America. ### Why was Clooney part of opening night? George Clooney’s award had been announced by the festival before opening day, with artistic director Alberto Barbera recommending him for the honor and the Biennale board approving it. (labiennale.org) La Biennale described Clooney as the first recipient of a 2026 Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement and listed his work as actor, director and producer in films including “Syriana” and “Good Night and Good Luck.” (variety.com) Laura Dern’s role in the ceremony added another awards-season name to the opening night lineup. The festival said Dern would deliver the tribute speech on Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. in the Sala Grande. ### Why did politics surface before the first premiere? Maggie Gyllenhaal addressed the issue directly at the jury press conference on Sept. 2. (labiennale.org) Variety reported that she said the world was in “a state of emergency” and argued that film can create empathy, adding that she was “open” and “curious.” (labiennale.org) Variety also reported that political pressure had already built around this year’s festival before opening day, including an open letter from the Venice4Palestine collective urging organizers to take “concrete action in support of Palestine.” The outlet said the festival went ahead with its traditional opening jury press conference after earlier considering canceling it because of scheduling issues. (variety.com) ### What else is set for the first days on the Lido? Sept. 3 is scheduled to bring another screening of “Ink” for pass holders at 11:30 a.m. at the PalaBiennale, according to the festival program. Variety’s preview of the opening days said stars expected early in the festival include O’Connell, Pearce and Foy for “Ink,” followed by cast arrivals tied to other competition titles on Sept. 3. (au.variety.com) The festival homepage lists masterclasses from Sept. 3 to Sept. 9 at the Match Point Arena featuring Clooney, Ellen Burstyn, Chloe Zhao with Lukasz Zal, Luc Besson and Luca Guadagnino. The 83rd edition is scheduled to conclude on Sept. 12. (labiennale.org 1) (labiennale.org 2)