The Venice 2026 line-up is here—and, as with Cannes, a pattern seems to be emerging. Are Hollywood studios moving away from the world's biggest film festivals?
Emma Jones and Kaleem Aftab give their first reaction to the Venice Official Selection, which includes Danny Boyle's Ink, Martin McDonagh's Wild Horse Nine, Florian Zeller's Bunker, Primetime starring Robert Pattinson, and Lee Chang-dong's long-awaited return Possible Love.
They ask whether Venice is still the launchpad for Oscar contenders, why many of the major US studios appear to be sitting this year out, and what this could mean for the future of film festivals, not to mention the famous Venice red carpet this year. Could Venice's documentary section, which includes the Oasis film, Don't Look Back in Anger, and Alex Gibney's new film Musk, actually be the biggest headliners?
Plus, Elon Musk announces that Grok will create its own AI version of The Odyssey in response to Christopher Nolan's blockbuster, prompting a wider discussion about historical accuracy, colour-conscious casting and whether AI can ever compete with filmmaking craft.
Finally, Emma and Kaleem recommend two films worth seeking out: the acclaimed British coming-of-age drama Ish and the darkly comic thriller Bad Apples, starring Saoirse Ronan.
View the full Venice 2026 Official Selection here: La Biennale di Venezia – Official Line-up
Which films are you most excited to see at Venice?
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