Venice Film Festival opens Sept. 2 with 'Ink'

The 83rd Venice International Film Festival opened on Wednesday on the Lido di Venezia, starting an 11-day run that organizers said will continue through Sept. 12. La Biennale di Venezia said Danny Boyle’s “Ink” was selected as the opening film and was due to have its world premiere in the Sala Grande at the Palazzo del Cinema after the opening ceremony. (variety.com) Maggie Gyllenhaal, this year’s jury president, set an early tone for the festival at the opening press conference. Variety reported that she described films as political amid questions shaped by the wars in Gaza and Ukraine and unrest in the United States, while Reuters reported she said cinema was inherently political. (labiennale.org) Boyle’s film gives the festival an opener tied both to prestige cinema and media history. La Biennale’s synopsis says “Ink,” based on a script by James Graham, is set in 1969 and centers on Rupert Murdoch and Larry Lamb as they launch a newspaper that would reshape British tabloid journalism. (labiennale.org) ### Why did Venice open with Danny Boyle’s “Ink”? La Biennale said “Ink” was chosen as the opening-night title for the 2026 edition and scheduled for a Sept. 2 world premiere in the main Sala Grande venue. The festival listing identifies Boyle as director and says the film is in competition. (variety.com) The official festival page says Boyle called the invitation to open Venice “a huge honour.” Deadline reported that the cast includes Jack O’Connell as Larry Lamb, Guy Pearce as Rupert Murdoch and Claire Foy as Jules Davies. (labiennale.org) ### What did Maggie Gyllenhaal say as the festival began? Variety reported that Gyllenhaal was asked whether cinema should be political as the festival opened against a backdrop of war and unrest. Reuters reported that she said films foster empathy at a time of global turmoil and questioned who gets to decide which stories matter. (labiennale.org) The Hollywood Reporter and Indiewire also reported that Gyllenhaal addressed the small number of women-directed films in competition. Reuters reported that she said women still face systemic obstacles in the industry. (labiennale.org) ### What is the festival schedule from here? La Biennale said the 83rd edition runs from Sept. 2 to Sept. 12 on the Lido di Venezia. The official festival homepage says screenings, competition titles and sidebars including Orizzonti and Venice Classics are part of the program. (variety.com) The festival is directed by Alberto Barbera, according to La Biennale. Reuters reported that Gyllenhaal is presiding over the main competition jury as the event moves into its first full day of screenings and press appearances. (hollywoodreporter.com) ### Who else is part of opening day? The Associated Press reported that George Clooney was among the figures helping open the festival and that he is set to receive a lifetime achievement award. AP also said Boyle premiered “Ink,” a film about Murdoch’s acquisition of The Sun. (labiennale.org) Opening-day coverage from multiple outlets showed the festival’s usual red-carpet rollout beginning alongside the press conference and first-night premiere. That combination of jury appearances, opening ceremony and competition launch is set to continue into the next round of screenings on Sept. 3. (labiennale.org) ### What happens before Venice ends on Sept. 12? Sept. 12 is the scheduled final day of the festival, according to La Biennale’s official dates. Between now and then, the main competition jury led by Gyllenhaal will watch entries on the Lido before the festival closes and awards are handed out. (apnews.com) (labiennale.org)