The Venice Film Festival of 2026 began on Wednesday, September 2, featuring the premiere of Danny Boyle’s Ink with acclaimed actors Jack O’Connell, Guy Pearce, and Claire Foy. This 83rd edition showcased a lineup of films starring notable actors such as Robert Pattinson, Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Jack Huston, Sofia Boutella, Dakota Johnson, John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Alicia Vikander, Susan Sarandon, Nick Nolte, and the Mara sisters, Kate and Rooney, in their first joint film appearance.
Ink was joined in the competition by a host of eagerly anticipated films aiming for awards season success, including Florian Zeller’s Bunker, Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine, Lance Oppenheim’s Primetime, Lee Chang-dong’s Possible Love, Andrea Pallaoro’s The Echo Chamber, Casey Affleck’s Company, and Werner Herzog’s Bucking Fastard.
While major studio films were mostly absent, the festival still featured new works by directors Luca Guadagnino, Paul Schrader, and Wim Wenders, as well as a short film by Laura Poitras about ICE protests in Minnesota, and a documentary by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace about the rock band Oasis’s resurgence.
Explore Deadline’s film reviews from the 2026 Venice Film Festival. Click on each title to read the complete review.
Exploring Philosophical Depths
Noora Films
Section: Out of Competition
Director: Paul Schrader
Cast: Jack Huston, Sofia Boutella, Daniel Zovalto, Bill Pullman, Dana Delany, Shiloh Fernandez, Karl Glusman, Elizabeth Petruso, Santiago Cabrera, Trevor Dolden, Richard Gere
Deadline’s takeaway: Paul Schrader’s latest work is a reflective character study that continues his tradition of tackling complex, mature themes not often seen outside of European cinema. His films consistently avoid simplistic resolutions, and this deep exploration of philosophical questions about change and human nature is no exception. — PH
Bucking Fastard
Lena Herzog
Section: Competition
Director-screenwriter: Werner Herzog
Cast: Kate Mara, Rooney Mara, Orlando Bloom, Domhnall Gleeson
Deadline’s takeaway: Werner Herzog’s latest film initially presents itself with a tone of gentle mockery, but beneath its stylized, strange surface is a surprisingly sweet and generous story about two sisters, portrayed by Rooney and Kate Mara. This film marks a departure from Herzog’s typical style, exploring a gentler narrative tone that recalls his 2019’s Family Romance LLC. — DW
Bunker
Sony Pictures Classics
Section: Competition
Director-screenwriter: Florian Zeller
Cast: Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, Stephen Graham, Paul Dano, Patrick Schwarzenegger
Deadline’s takeaway: Florian Zeller’s compelling film casts real-life couple Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz, blurring the lines between reality and fiction. The film uses their characters’ tumultuous relationship as a lens to explore broader societal issues such as future anxieties, environmental concerns, inequality, individualism, and the isolation felt in a post-pandemic world. — PH
Company
FrameRiver
Section: Competition
Director: Casey Affleck
Cast: Nick Nolte, Ben Mendelsohn, Adelaide Clemens, Scott McNairy, Emily Alyn Lind, Caylee Cowan, Atticus Affleck, Indiana Affleck
Deadline’s takeaway: Casey Affleck’s directorial approach is reminiscent of films he has starred in, such as the Oscar-winning Manchester by the Sea, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, and David Lowery’s A Ghost Story. These influences are evident in Company, a film that invites the audience to immerse themselves in its narrative, encouraging a contemplative engagement with its themes. — PH
Father Joe
Section: Venice Open – Out Of Competition
Director: Barthélémy Grossmann
Cast: Kiefer Sutherland, Ever Anderson, Al Pacino, Michael Rispoli
Deadline’s takeaway: Al Pacino delivers a surprisingly restrained performance, allowing Kiefer Sutherland to take center stage in this over-the-top, fun, and sometimes hilariously unbelievable role. The film is a bold, unrestrained rock ‘n’ roll spectacle, marking a standout entry at this year’s festival. — DW
The Girl with the Leica
Daniel Hayes is a business journalist with a focus on market trends, startups, and corporate strategies.
His sharp analysis and investigative reports make complex financial topics accessible to all readers.
