Story perspectives

Venice Opens; Clooney, Burstyn Honored, U.S. Studios Absent

7/24/2026

Summary

Venice Festival Opens

The Venice Film Festival opens on Sept. 2 with Danny Boyle’s “Ink” and will close on Sept. 12.
The competition lineup includes “Ink,” “Wild Horse Nine,” “Bucking Fastard,” “Primetime,” and “Woman Unknown,” the sole female-directed entry.
Maggie Gyllenhaal chairs the jury, which also features directors Kaouther Ben-Hania, Xavier Giannoli, Johnnie To and composer Daniel Blumberg.
George Clooney receives the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.
Ellen Burstyn receives a separate lifetime-achievement award.

Summary

US Studios Crisis

Industry insiders say the lack of U.S. studio titles at Venice stems from a merger-driven identity crisis.
Warner Bros. skipped all fall festivals and released Alejandro González Iñárritu’s “Digger” directly in theaters.
A24 entered Robert Pattinson-led “Primetime,” directed by Lance Oppenheim and set for a September 25, 2026 release, despite last year’s “Smashing Machine” flop.

History

Historical Context

On 19 May 1968 the Cannes Film Festival was halted when student and worker strikes forced directors to withdraw their films, leading to the independent Directors’ Fortnight’s creation in 1969. That protest-driven break established festivals as venues for non-studio voices, a pattern echoed today as Venice sees major studios skip and independents like A24 dominate.

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Venice Festival Opens

The Venice Film Festival opens on Sept. 2 with Danny Boyle’s “Ink” and will close on Sept. 12.
The competition lineup includes “Ink,” “Wild Horse Nine,” “Bucking Fastard,” “Primetime,” and “Woman Unknown,” the sole female-directed entry.
Maggie Gyllenhaal chairs the jury, which also features directors Kaouther Ben-Hania, Xavier Giannoli, Johnnie To and composer Daniel Blumberg.
George Clooney receives the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.
Ellen Burstyn receives a separate lifetime-achievement award.

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