Venice Film Festival opens with Rupert Murdoch film, George Clooney and plenty of geopolitics

Venice, Italy — George Clooney and Danny Boyle are set to launch the Venice Film Festival with flair on Wednesday, with Clooney receiving a lifetime achievement honor and Boyle introducing "Ink," a film chronicling Rupert Murdoch's 1969 takeover of "The Sun." Throughout the festival's 11-day run, Hollywood and international stars, including Robert Pattinson and Oasis siblings Noel and Liam Gallagher, are expected to attend the red carpet events.

However, this year's lineup appears to prioritize geopolitics over celebrity appearances. The extensive selection features documentaries examining the Gaza conflict ("Naza"), Elon Musk's influence ("Musk"), and Russian journalists reporting on the Ukraine war ("My Undesirable Friends — Part II: Exile"). Additionally, the festival showcases Palestinian films and a short documentary on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minneapolis.

Alberto Barbera, the festival's director, revealed during a press conference that most of the films they considered during the selection process centered on "contemporary problems," emphasizing the festival's focus on current global issues.