# Venice Film Festival 2026 – Competition Lineup > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ink-film-opening-venice-film-festival > Updated: 2026-08-10T12:06:04.000Z. Sources: 154. Developments: 6. The 83rd Venice International Film Festival is scheduled to take place from 2–12 September 2026 on the Lido. Organized by La Biennale di Venezia, the event serves as a major global showcase for auteur cinema and a key launchpad for awards season. Danny Boyle’s biopic ‘Ink’ will open the festival and compete for the Golden Lion. Based on a play by James Graham, the film depicts the rise of Rupert Murdoch’s tabloid empire, starring Guy Pearce as a young Murdoch, Jack O’Connell as editor Larry Lamb, and Claire Foy as Jules Davies. Financed by Studiocanal, Media Res, and House Productions, the film is set for a world premiere at Venice and a debut at the Toronto International Film Festival. Following the festival, a global rollout is planned. In the United States and Latin America, Netflix will release the film in select theaters on 11 December 2026, with a streaming debut on 8 January 2027. International theatrical releases managed by Studiocanal include France and Belgium on 6 January 2027, the Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand on 7 January 2027, and the United Kingdom and Poland on 8 January 2027. The competition features twenty films, including Werner Herzog’s ‘Bucking Fastard’, Hirokazu Kore‑eda’s new work, Lee Chang‑dong’s entry, Ali Asgari’s contribution, Martin McDonagh’s ‘Wild Horse Nine’, Casey Affleck’s ‘Company’, and Nanni Moretti’s ‘Succederà questa notte’. George Clooney is set to receive a career Golden Lion. Special programming includes a documentary on the Oasis reunion, an AI-driven portrait of Renzo Rosso, and a tribute to filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, who will receive the ‘Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker Award’. The festival will conclude with the screening of Giovanni Veronesi’s comedy ‘Dio Ride’, followed by the Golden Lion awards ceremony. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-10: Danny Boyle’s ‘Ink’ sets theatrical and Netflix release dates Danny Boyle’s ‘Ink’, a drama about Rupert Murdoch’s media rise, will premiere at the Venice Film Festival before a December 2026 theatrical release and a January 2027 debut on Netflix. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/danny-boyles-ink-set-for-global-release-and-venice-premiere ### 2026-08-07: Venice Film Festival 2026: Full program and key highlights announced The 83rd Venice International Film Festival will run from September 2–12, 2026, at the Lido, featuring films by Danny Boyle and Nanni Moretti, and honoring George Clooney with a career Golden Lion. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venice-film-festival-2026-full-program-and-key-highlights-announced ### 2026-08-04: Venice Film Festival 2026 set for Sept 2‑12, opening with Danny Boyle’s “Ink” The 2026 Venice Film Festival runs Sept 2‑12 on the Lido, opening with Danny Boyle’s “Ink” about Rupert Murdoch and ending with the Golden Lion awards. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venice-film-festival-2026-set-for-sept-212-opening-with-danny-boyles-ink ### 2026-07-22: Venice Film Festival 2026 reveals competition slate and Italian entries Venice Film Festival 2026 (2‑12 Sept) opens with Danny Boyle’s “Ink”, closes with “Dio Ride”, and pits 20 films—including five Italian entries such as Moretti’s “Succederà questa notte”—for the Golden Lion. 117 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/carla-lonzi-documentary-premieres-at-venice-film-festival ### 2026-07-19: Danny Boyle Opens Venice Film Festival with Rupert Murdoch Drama 'Ink British director Danny Boyle will open the 83rd Venice Film Festival on Sept 2 with the world premiere of ‘Ink’, a drama about Rupert Murdoch’s 1960s takeover of The Sun, starring Guy Pearce, Jack O’Connell and 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/danny-boyle-opens-venice-film-festival-with-rupert-murdoch-drama-ink ### 2026-07-16: Danny Boyle's film Ink to open Venice Film Festival Danny Boyle’s film Ink, about Rupert Murdoch’s 1969 takeover of The Sun, will open the 2026 Venice Film Festival; Netflix bought U.S. and Latin‑American rights. 23 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/danny-boyles-ink-to-open-2026-venice-film-festival --- Cite as: Venice Film Festival 2026 – Competition Lineup. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ink-film-opening-venice-film-festival