Giovanni Veronesi's 'Dio ride' to close Venice Film Festival

Italian director Giovanni Veronesi's historical drama *Dio ride* was selected as the closing, out‑of‑competition film of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The world premiere took place on 12 September 2026 in the Sala Grande of the Palazzo del Cinema. The film, inspired by the true 17th‑century story of Frate Leopoldo da Casamacchia, follows the radical monk’s effort to preach the Gospel in the vernacular, a narrative that challenges the era’s church hierarchy. Pierfrancesco Favino leads the cast as Leopoldo, with Silvio Orlando, Alma Noce, Francesco Gheghi, Maurizio Lombard and Carlo Cecchi in supporting roles. Production was supported by the Toscana Film Commission and the Manifetture Digitali Cinema hub, and the Italian distributor Piper Film plans a national release on 29 October 2026. The festival’s closing slot underscores the film’s cultural significance within Italian cinema.