Greece Takes Centre Stage At Venice Film Festival

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Greece takes centre stage at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival this year, with the country named Focus Country at the Venice Production Bridge 2026 and Greek cinema and audiovisual projects receiving prominent international attention.

The festival opens today with Danny Boyle’s “Ink”, launching a programme of highly anticipated premieres from established filmmakers and emerging talents from around the world.

Boyle’s “Ink”, which also competes in the festival’s Official Competition, tells the true story of Rupert Murdoch’s acquisition of the British newspaper The Sun and its transformation into one of the country’s most successful and influential tabloids.

Jack O’Connell plays legendary editor Larry Lamb, Claire Foy portrays journalist Jules Davies, while Guy Pearce takes on the role of Murdoch.

American actress and filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal chairs this year’s jury. She joins Asian cinema heavyweight Johnny To, Afghan filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat, French director and screenwriter Xavier Giannoli, Oscar-winning composer Daniel Blumberg, Italian film scholar and theorist Francesco Casetti, and Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania.

Controversy over the jury press conference

The festival sparked controversy after initially announcing the cancellation of the jury’s traditional press conference.

Organisers first attributed the decision to “overlapping commitments” among jury members that made scheduling impossible. Journalists from around the world subsequently criticised the festival, arguing that concerns over questions — particularly those relating to Gaza — had prompted the cancellation.

The Mostra subsequently reversed its decision, and the jury will hold its press conference as usual on opening day.

The opening ceremony will also honour American actor, director and producer George Clooney with one of this year’s honorary awards.

During the festival, Venice will also present an Honorary Golden Lion for lifetime achievement to legendary American actress Ellen Burstyn. Artistic director Alberto Barbera described Burstyn as “an actress of rare intensity and truth.” Her celebrated career includes The Last Picture Show, The Exorcist, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and Requiem for a Dream.

20 films compete for the Golden Lion

Twenty films will compete in the Official Competition for the Golden Lion.

Among the highlights is Werner Herzog’s highly anticipated “Bucking Fastard”, a drama based on the true story of British twins Frieda and Greta Chaplin, who became known in the 1980s for their unusual symbiotic relationship and their shared obsession with the same man.

The competition also features Hirokazu Kore-eda’s second film of the year, “Look Back”, an adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga that previously achieved major success as a 2024 animated film.

Other competition titles include Casey Affleck’s “Company”, Lee Chang-dong’s psychological drama “Possible Love”, which marks his return to feature fiction eight years after Burning (2018), and Martin McDonagh’s “Wild Horse Nine”.

McDonagh’s new film combines black comedy, spy-thriller elements and political drama against the backdrop of Chile shortly before the 1973 coup.

Florian Zeller’s “Bunker” explores the fractures that emerge in a couple’s relationship after 17 years together, with Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem and Patrick Schwarzenegger in the leading roles.

The competition also includes “Primetime”, Lance Oppenheim’s first fiction feature. The film examines the power and limits of television journalism, exploring the tension between exposing the truth and commercialising human tragedy through the story of Chris Hansen, the presenter of To Catch a Predator, played by Robert Pattinson.

Outside competition, the festival will screen Paul Schrader’s new philosophical drama “The Basics of Philosophy.”

Greek cinema at the Mostra

Greek cinema will have a strong presence across several sections of the festival.

Jacqueline Lentzou’s second feature, “A Day in the Life of Joe: Phaedra Chapter”, will compete in the Orizzontisection, which focuses on new trends and innovative voices in contemporary world cinema.

The coming-of-age drama combines realism with dreamlike and supernatural elements, capturing what Lentzou describes as the fragile tenderness and raw energy of adolescence alongside the painful unpredictability of life.

The filmmaker describes the film as “essentially an elegy for life, written in the language of dreams and music.”

Avion Films and Atalanti S.A. produced the film, with Kelek Film, 4A4 Productions, ERT S.A. and Haris & Co. as co-producers.

Greek filmmaker Stavros Markoulakis will also present his short film “Tropic of Mourning Gecko”, which will have its world premiere in the Orizzonti competition.

Set against the landscape of Crete, the film explores the awakening of sexual desire and the violent transition into adulthood that follows, alongside the beauty of love and the fear of surrendering completely to it.

Markoulakis also places transformation at the heart of the film, portraying it as a necessary process that can demand any price.

The film is a Greek, French and Dutch co-production.

Meanwhile, “Our Share of Sand”, directed by Shalini Adnani and co-produced by George Karnavas of Heretic, will screen in the Settimana Internazionale della Critica (International Critics’ Week).

All three Greek films received support through funding programmes of EKOME.

Greece takes centre stage

The festival’s special “Focus on Greece” initiative will showcase Greek film and immersive projects, highlighting the strength of the country’s audiovisual sector while creating opportunities for international partnerships and co-productions.

The Venice Gap-Financing Market – Focus on Greece will feature:

• “African Grey” by Giorgos Goussis
• “Lionfish” by Thanasis Troumpoukis
• “Patrimonial Fears and Other Illusions” by Elina Psykou
• “The Smuggler” by Kaveh Bakhtiari
• “Wake” by Thelma Petraki

The Venice Immersive Market – Focus on Greece will feature “The Mysteries of Eleusis” by John Fitzgerald and Simon Critchley.

In addition, “VISITOR” by Spyros Boukas will participate in the Biennale College Cinema – Immersive programme.

With Greek productions represented across the festival’s competitive sections and industry markets, this year’s Venice Film Festival gives Greece an unusually prominent platform to showcase its filmmakers, projects and growing potential for international audiovisual collaboration.

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