Venice Film Festival 2026 Just Exploded: Wild Horse Nine Gets a 14-Minute Standing Ovation, and That's Just the Beginning

Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich at the Wild Horse Nine world premiere — the 83rd Venice Film Festival, September 3, 2026. (Photo by Earl Gibson III / Deadline)

The 83rd Venice Film Festival just opened its doors, and the first 24 hours alone have already delivered one of the most electric starts in recent memory. Martin McDonagh's Wild Horse Nine landed on the Lido Thursday evening and earned a rapturous 14-minute standing ovation — the longest of the entire festival so far.

Set on Easter Island in the days leading up to the 1973 Chilean military coup, Wild Horse Nine pairs Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich as longtime CIA partners who discover that their murky shared past may be more dangerous than either imagined. The Supporting cast is stacked: Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits, and Parker Posey round out a lineup that reads like a dream ensemble. Searchlight Pictures will release the film in U.S. theaters on November 6.

During the emotional ovation, Malkovich was visibly moved as he and Rockwell embraced while the Sala Grande audience roared. McDonagh's partner Phoebe Waller-Bridge watched from the audience, while Rockwell's longtime partner Leslie Bibb hugged him on stage.

The Rest of the Lineup Is Absurdly Stacked

But Wild Horse Nine is just the appetizer. Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera unveiled a lineup that reads like a masterclass in 2020s cinema:

• Danny Boyle's Ink — based on James Graham's acclaimed stage play, dramatizing the rise of media mogul Rupert Murdoch. It opened the festival on September 2 and is competing for the Golden Lion.
• Robert Pattinson stars in Primetime, where he plays "To Catch a Predator" host Chris Hansen in what's shaping up to be one of the most talked-about performances of the season.
• Alex Gibney's Musk — a sweeping four-hour documentary portrait of the world's most controversial billionaire. Just when you thought documentaries couldn't get more epic.
• Werner Herzog returns to Venice with Bucking Fastard, in which Rooney Mara and Kate Mara play identical twins. Yes, really.
• Florian Zeller's Bunker features Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem as a married couple in a thriller. Spanish royalty on the Lido.

Luca Guadagnino Goes Seven Hours

Speaking of bold moves, Luca Guadagnino — fresh off wrapping Artificial, the Sam Altman biopic starring Andrew Garfield — is debuting a seven-hour documentary about Italian legend Bernardo Bertolucci titled Joie de Vivre. Yes, seven hours. At Venice. At a film festival. No audacity left unsatisfied.

Lifetime Honors for Ellen Burstyn and George Clooney

Venice is also rolling out the red carpet — metaphorically and literally — for career tributes. Ellen Burstyn, now 93, will receive a lifetime achievement award. George Clooney, a Venice regular, gets the same honor. Dakota Johnson and Burstyn also co-star in jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal's Marilyn Monroe-inspired short Flesh Impact.

The competition jury, led by Gyllenhaal and including filmmakers Kaouther Ben Hania, Johnnie To, and Shahrbanoo Sadat, will announce winners on September 12.

Also Worth Watching

The lineup also includes Casey Affleck's directorial debut Company (starring Nick Nolte and Ben Mendelsohn), Hirokazu Kore-eda's Look Back about two girls dreaming of becoming manga artists, Russell Crowe's autobiographical concert film What Love Builds, and an Oasis documentary directed by Steven Knight with Noel and Liam Gallagher expected to attend.

Venice's 83rd edition has barely begun, and it's already proving why it's the gold standard for fall festival season. Buckle up — awards season just started.