Published : 29 Aug 2026, 12:24 AM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:36 AM
The Venice Film Festival is heading into one of its most politically charged editions in recent memory, with films on Gaza, Russia, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump's immigration crackdown all set to screen on the Lido.
Artistic director Alberto Barbera has described this year's selection as "the most political one in recent years."
Controversy arrived before the first film could screen.
The European Commission pulled $2.3 million in funding from the Venice Biennale Foundation -- which also runs the film festival -- over its decision to allow Russia and Israel to mount shows at its art exhibition.
Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco accused Brussels of double standards, pointing out that Europe was simultaneously paying Putin billions in gas contracts.
The festival opens with Danny Boyle's "Ink," about how British tabloid The Sun helped build Rupert Murdoch's media empire, reports Variety.
Alex Gibney's four-hour documentary "Musk" promises what its US distributor calls "real revelations" about Elon Musk.
Palestinian director Ahmed Hassouna's "Citizen Osama" follows a photographer documenting life under bombardment in Gaza.
A late addition, "Naza," claims to expose what its synopsis calls Israel's "calculated mass killing" of Palestinian civilians. The film was produced by Britain's Guardian newspaper and James Wilson, and executive produced by "Zone of Interest" director Jonathan Glazer.
Laura Poitras' "They're Here" documents protests against Trump's immigration raids in Minnesota, while Julia Loktev's "My Undesirable Friends: Part II -- Exile" follows Russian journalists living in forced exile.
For the first time at a major global film festival, a feature made entirely with AI has been selected for competition. Barbera called it an invitation to explore new creative possibilities, saying it is "the role of festivals today to tackle this topic."
