Venice Film Festival turns to politics as Hollywood retreats

Key Points:

• Hollywood studios are largely absent from the 2026 Venice Film Festival due to an industry crisis marked by fewer, costlier productions and cautious studio investment in costly premieres.
• Festival director Alberto Barbera highlighted the program's focus on global political and social issues, including the Gaza conflict, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, immigration enforcement in the U.S., and the rise of billionaires.
• Despite Hollywood's reduced presence, the festival will feature significant star power with lifetime achievement awards for George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn, and appearances by Robert Pattinson, Penelope Cruz, and others.
• Documentaries have gained prominence at Venice, with high-quality films addressing contemporary global challenges, such as Alex Gibney's Elon Musk portrait and a documentary on ICE raids in Minnesota.
• The festival opens with Danny Boyle's "Ink," a drama about Rupert Murdoch's media empire beginnings, and includes several films from acclaimed international directors competing for the Golden Lion Award.