Venice Film Festival brings stars, Oscar hopefuls and timely docu

The 83rd Venice Film Festival opens Wednesday on the Lido, launching the fall awards season with major stars, Oscar hopefuls and documentaries focused on Elon Musk, Russia and Gaza.

Noel and Liam Gallagher, Robert Pattinson, Rooney Mara, George Clooney and Penélope Cruz are among those expected. Clooney and Ellen Burstyn will receive lifetime achievement awards.

Alex Gibney's nearly four-hour documentary examines Musk's rise and influence. The filmmaker, who interviewed hundreds of people, said the Tesla and SpaceX CEO declined to participate and described his findings as challenging Musk's public image.

Julia Loktev's nearly six-hour “My Undesirable Friends: Part II — Exile” follows independent Russian journalists forced to flee after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Gaza is also featured in “NAZA,” a late competition entry from two filmmakers behind the Oscar-winning “No Other Land.” Venice4Palestine has urged the festival to cut ties with Israeli government-linked institutions.

Awards contenders include Martin McDonagh's “Wild Horse Nine,” Florian Zeller's “Bunker,” Danny Boyle's “Ink” and Lance Oppenheim's “Primetime.”

Only Danish-Egyptian director May El-Toukhy is competing among women filmmakers, despite Venice's 2018 pledge to achieve gender parity.

Outside the competition, Venice Days opens with Lili Horvát's “My Notes on Mars” and features a programme in which more than half the selections are directed by women.