VENICE — The 2026 Venice Film Festival is set to open on Wednesday with a program that places global politics at its core, as major Hollywood studios have largely withdrawn from the prestigious event. Festival director Alberto Barbera told Reuters that the lineup reflects filmmakers’ growing commitment to contemporary issues such as the war in Gaza, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the rise of billionaires and immigration enforcement in the United States.
Hollywood’s retreat and tighter budgets
Barbera said the industry is facing a “huge crisis,” noting that studios are producing fewer films and that the cost of mounting a Venice premiere has become prohibitive. Recent costly missteps, including the poor reception of the 2024 “Joker” sequel, have made studios wary of investing in high‑profile festival debuts.
Star power remains
Despite the reduced studio presence, the festival will still feature notable talent. George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn are slated to receive lifetime‑achievement awards, and a host of actors—including Robert Pattinson, Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, John Malkovich and Rooney Mara—are expected on the Lido. British musicians Liam and Noel Gallagher will appear for the premiere of the documentary “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” chronicling Oasis’s reunion.
New films and Oscar hopefuls
The 2026 slate includes works from acclaimed directors Martin McDonagh, Florian Zeller, Danny Boyle and Werner Herzog, all vying for the Golden Lion. Boyle’s opening film, “Ink,” dramatizes Rupert Murdoch’s 1969 takeover of the British tabloid The Sun, a move that launched his global media empire. Barbera highlighted additional entries from South Korea’s Lee Chang‑dong, Japan’s Hirokazu Kore‑eda and Shinya Tsukamoto, whose English‑language Vietnam‑War story “Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People?” adds to the festival’s international flavor.
Documentaries take center stage
Barbera noted a record 4,500 submissions and an “increasing quality” of documentaries tackling war, migration, climate change and democratic strain. He said, “Documentaries are so strong in dealing with great issues of the contemporary world. I couldn’t avoid inviting them to the festival.” Among the most anticipated are Alex Gibney’s near‑four‑hour portrait of Elon Musk and Laura Poitras and Rachel Lauren Mueller’s “They’re Here,” which examines ICE raids on immigrants in Minnesota.
The Gaza conflict is prominently featured. The Israeli‑produced documentary “NAZA” by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor explores Palestinian civilian casualties, while Barbera affirmed the festival’s clear stance by selecting four works that address the situation in Israel and Gaza.
Implications for the industry
The shift toward politically charged programming may signal a broader transformation in the film world, where independent voices and documentary filmmakers are gaining prominence as traditional studio backing recedes. As the festival unfolds, observers will watch whether this new direction reshapes the awards season and influences future festival strategies worldwide.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
