September 2, 2026 marks the beginning of the Venice International Film Festival, an edition that promises exciting premieres and breathtaking looks on the red carpet.
Even though awards season is still far away, Venice is already looking ahead, with many critics and cinema fans wondering if any of the pictures premiering could bring home an Academy Award on March 14th, 2027.
In the meantime, the Golden Lion, the Festival’s top prize, will be awarded on September 12th, 2026.
These are some of the most exciting films premiering during this year’s edition.
Robert Pattinson turns into Chris Hansen
The chameleonic actor Robert Pattinson is ready to challenge the audience once again.
In Lance Oppenheim’s ‘Primetime’, he plays Chris Hansen, the American investigative journalist who, in the early 2000s, took the USA by storm by catching out pedophiles in his programme ‘To Catch a Predator’.
The movie also seems to be hinting that Hansen’s methods could have been problematic – and leads the audience to reflect on an uncomfortable topic.
McDonagh explores (yet another) complicated friendship
Irish director Martin McDonagh, who brought us the excellent ‘In Bruges’ and ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’, launches into another black comedy with ‘Wild Horses Nine’.
In the movie, Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich play two CIA agents based in 1973’s Santiago, Chile, who suddenly relocate to Easter Island for a vacation.
The unconventional break turns into a chance to annoy each other while they quietly attempt to topple Salvador Allende’s government.
Boyle digs into Rupert Murdoch’s origin story
‘Trainspotting’ and ‘28 Days Later’ director Danny Boyle examines the rise of Australian-born media mogul Rupert Murdoch in ‘Ink’.
In 1968, Murdoch bought The Sun, Britain’s biggest-selling newspaper, changing the history of the country’s press forever.
Jack O’Connell plays the editor Larry Lamb, while Guy Pearce plays Murdoch.
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The Gallagher brothers reunite on the big screen
Filmmakers Will Lovelace and Dylan Southern, the directors behind ‘No Distance Left to Run’, the documentary that recounted Blur’s 2009 reunion, are back with another tale of hope and reconciliation.
This time, the duo delve into the most complicated relationship in Britpop (and perhaps in general) – that of Liam and Noel Gallagher, the beating heart of Oasis.
‘Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger’ follows Oasis’ incredibly successful reunion tour, which took place last year, and it features interviews and lots of live footage.
Herzog brings a strange dream to Venice
German director Werner Herzog comes back to Venice with ‘Bucking Fastard’, perhaps the strangest feature of this year’s edition.
In the film, sisters Kate and Rooney Mara act together for the first time to play two inseparable siblings, who speak at the same time and have the same dreams.
Their goal? Finding a land where true love is possible – and real.
Anime gets the ‘élite’ festival treatment
Finally, some exciting news for anime fans, too.
Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda brings to Venice his ‘Look Back’, the live-action version of ‘Chainsaw Man’ creator Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga of the same name.
‘Look Back’ was also adapted into a lovely anime version, currently streaming on Amazon Prime.
The one-shot manga (and film) follows the childhood and early adulthood of Fujino and Kyomoto, two mangakas (manga artists), as they work hard on their first opera.
A tale of friendship and rivalry, ‘Look Back’ explores the true meaning of art and how it can shape our lives.
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James Mario Ajero 
Elan Castanares 
Andre Alfonso R. Gutierrez