Overview

• The festival opens its 82nd edition on the Lido with Paolo Sorrentino’s La Grazia and a packed slate of premieres.
• Venice4Palestine’s open letter, signed by hundreds including Ken Loach and Alice Rohrwacher, urges a “clear and unequivocal” condemnation of Israeli actions and calls to end certain partnerships and rescind some invitations.
• Activists scheduled a news conference at the red carpet for opening day and plan a Saturday march toward the venue during the world premiere of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein.
• Festival director Alberto Barbera says the Biennale will not issue political declarations or boycott artists, describing the Mostra as “a space for debate.”
• Barbera says Gal Gadot was never slated to attend and Gerard Butler’s plans remain unresolved, as the lineup includes Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Voice of Hind Rajab in competition and protests cite recent deadly Gaza strikes reported by officials.