The Venice Film Festival opens with a Rupert Murdoch film, George Clooney and plenty of geopolitics

VENICE, Italy (AP) — George Clooney and Danny Boyle are helping kick off the Venice Film Festival in style Wednesday on the Lido. Clooney, a festival mainstay, is receiving a lifetime achievement award, while Boyle is premiering “Ink,” his film about Rupert Murdoch's acquisition of the British tabloid “The Sun” in 1969.

Over the course of the next 11 days, the festival will see many stars from Hollywood and beyond grace the red carpet, from Robert Pattinson to Noel and Liam Gallagher of Oasis, but the focus this year seems to be more on geopolitics than movie star moments. The sprawling lineup includes documentaries about the conflict in Gaza ( “Naza” ), Elon Musk (“Musk”) and independent Russian journalists covering the war in Ukraine (“My Undesirable Friends — Part II: Exile”) as well as Palestinian films and a short about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis.

The festival’s director Alberto Barbera told The Associated Press that most of the films they saw during the selection process dealt with “contemporary problems.”

“We didn’t really have a choice,” he said. “We are in a space open to everybody for discussion, for confrontation. Everybody is completely free to express themselves. And I’m, in a way, really happy that this kind of film could help the viewers, the critics, everybody to have a better understanding of what is going on in our contemporary, difficult world.”

Much attention has also been placed on the fact that there is only one film directed by a woman among the 21 competing for its top prize, the Golden Lion.

“It’s a big problem, of course,” Barbera said. “I’m completely aware of the fact that there is a lot to do to give women the place that they deserve in cinema.”

He explained that while the organizers saw many interesting films from women, and programmed many in the festival’s sidebars, they didn’t find films that were strong enough for the main competition. Barbera also said the festival is on the side of women in their battle for equal representation.

Some of the films premiering at Venice could emerge as Oscar contenders, including opening-night film “Ink,” a competition title starring Guy Pearce as Murdoch and Jack O’Connell as editor Larry Lamb. The film is an adaptation of James Graham’s acclaimed play.

Boyle earlier this year told the AP that he made “Ink” in the same way he made “Trainspotting” — they didn’t have much money, but they had a committed ensemble who rallied behind the idea and a breakout star. In “Trainspotting,” that was Ewan McGregor. In “Ink,” he said, it’s O’Connell.

“It’s this bed of people that you build the story around and from and they give support and succor to the idea but the big thing they bring is belief in the idea,” Boyle said. “For actors to do that, they have to hang around a lot. It’s all very well talking about ensemble pieces but ensemble means them hanging around a lot so that they can pop in.”

Boyle added: “I haven’t learned a great deal in 30 years and that’s probably a good thing.”

The festival will also get its Clooney moment when he receives a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.

“We decided to give him a Golden Lion because in a way he suffers from his own image, you know the seductive man, an image of beauty and so on,” Barbera said. “Sometimes people forget that he is a great actor, one of the greatest actors at the moment and a great filmmaker, a great director. So it’s a way to underline this.”

Later, 93-year-old Ellen Burstyn will get one as well.

The Venice Film Festival runs through Sept. 12.

For ongoing coverage of the 2026 Venice Film Festival, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/venice-film-festival

George Clooney arrives at the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (Photo by Alessandra Tarantino/Invision/AP)

Director Danny Boyle poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Ink' during the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal poses for photographers at the jury photo call during the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

George Clooney poses for photographers at the golden lion for lifetime achievement photo call during the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

People gather in front of a billboard prior to the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. (Photo by Alessandra Tarantino/Invision/AP)

People view film posters prior to the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. (Photo by Alessandra Tarantino/Invision/AP)

A worker makes a telephone call on the red carpet prior to the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. (Photo by Alessandra Tarantino/Invision/AP)

STUART, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods pleaded no contest to a reckless driving charge and his driver's license was suspended for five years Wednesday following a March rollover crash in Florida, where he initially was accused of driving under the influence.

Woods, still one of golf's most influential figures and as recognizable as any athlete in the world, has had a remarkable fall since winning the 2019 Masters for his 15th major. The first person of Black heritage to win the Masters in 1997, his career has been derailed by multiple back and knee surgeries, car crashes and dependence on pain medication.

He was arrested in March after his SUV clipped a truck and rolled over on its side on a beachside residential road near his home on Jupiter Island. A sheriff’s report said deputies found two pain pills in his pocket and he showed signs of impairment. He did a Breathalyzer test, which came out negative, but refused to take a urine test.

He pleaded not guilty to the original DUI charge.

Before the hearing in Florida’s Marin County on Wednesday, Woods, 50, sat at the defense table looking back at the mostly empty courtroom gallery. He said little as he agreed to the reduced charge and left the courthouse without addressing reporters.

He had arrived with his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, President Donald Trump’s former daughter-in-law. She sat behind him during the proceedings.

“Tiger is not absolved of accountability and he surrendered his license for the next five years,” Mark Steinberg, his longtime manager at Excel Sports told the AP. “He is continuing his treatment and prioritizing all aspects of his health.”

The prosecutor in the case said two toxicologists found there was insufficient proof of his impairment and determined Woods had built up a “pharmacological” tolerance after years of using pain pills.

Thomas Bakkedahl, a state attorney, defended his decision to accept the plea, saying, “I did what I think is right.”

Prosecutors obtained the golfer's pharmacy records that showed he had a lawful prescription, Bakkedahl said.

The deputy who arrested Woods after the crash found two white pills in his pocket that had markings identifying them as hydrocodone, according to the arrest report. Hydrocodone is an opioid that is prescribed for pain, but it can be addictive.

Woods told the deputy he takes a few prescription medications, according to the report, including “Vicodin” — a brand name painkiller that contains hydrocodone.

He has had numerous surgeries on his legs and back over the last two decades — some to treat cartilage and ligament damage, a ruptured tendon, arthritis, and damaged discs in his back.

At Wednesday's hearing, Woods also pleaded no contest to refusing to submit to testing after the crash and was fined $1,500, according to court documents. A no-contest plea is not an admission of guilt, but means the accused will offer no defense. The plea is treated as a conviction in the criminal justice system.

Woods' attorney did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

Judge Darren Steele warned Woods that his driver’s license suspension didn’t include exceptions. “If you were to drive for any reason at all, you would immediately go back to jail,” the judge told Woods.

The prosecutor said he was confident that Woods would be spotted if he doesn’t heed the message. “Of all the people in the world who should not get behind the wheel of a car, it’s one of the most recognizable people on the planet,” Bakkedahl said.

But there’s one vehicle Woods still can drive, at least in Florida — a golf cart.

That because Florida law says as long you are at least 18, you can operate a golf cart without a license. And that applies to anyone, Bakkedahl said in an email, whether you’re on a golf course or public property.

Body camera footage shows Woods taking out his phone after the crash and telling a deputy, “I was just talking to the president.”

Woods can be heard saying, “Thank you so much,” as he hangs up and the deputy approaches. It is not clear if Woods was referring to President Donald Trump.

The footage also shows the handcuffed Woods hiccupping, yawning and repeatedly appearing to nod off during the 15-minute ride.

Neither Woods nor the person in the other vehicle were injured in the crash, according to officials. Woods told a deputy that he was looking down at his phone and changing the radio station when he hit the truck.

Woods has been involved in four crashes over the years. He took a leave from the golf tour after the 2009 crash and again after the latest crash and has yet to return to tournament play.

He left the United States to seek treatment at an inpatient treatment facility, according to court records.

Woods made his first public appearance since returning from treatment on June 23 when he introduced the PGA Tour’s plans to revamp its schedule for 2028. Woods remained as chair of the tour’s Future Competition Committee after his arrest.

Associated Press Golf reporters Doug Ferguson in Jacksonville, Florida, and John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, contributed.

Golfer Tiger Woods arrives for a plea conference hearing in a DUI case stemming from a rollover crash in Florida in March, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Stuart, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Tiger Woods appears in County Judge Darren Steele's courtroom for a plea hearing from an arrest in March, at the Martin County Courthouse in Stuart, Fla., Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (Crystal Vander Weit/Treasure Coast Newspapers via AP, Pool)

Golfer Tiger Woods, right, leaves with Vanessa Trump, left, after Woods' plea conference hearing in a DUI case stemming from a rollover crash in Florida in March, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Stuart, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Golfer Tiger Woods, right, leaves with Vanessa Trump, left, after Woods' plea conference hearing in a DUI case stemming from a rollover crash in Florida in March, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Stuart, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Golfer Tiger Woods, right, leaves with Vanessa Trump, left, after Woods' plea conference hearing in a DUI case stemming from a rollover crash in Florida in March, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Stuart, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Tiger Woods appears in County Judge Darren Steele's courtroom for a plea hearing from an arrest in March, at the Martin County Courthouse in Stuart, Fla., Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (Crystal Vander Weit/Treasure Coast Newspapers via AP, Pool)

Golfer Tiger Woods, right, arrives with Vanessa Trump, left, for Woods' plea conference hearing in a DUI case stemming from a rollover crash in Florida in March, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Stuart, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)