The 83rd Venice Film Festival opened on Wednesday, September 2, with a special honor awarded to actor George Clooney. The event also highlighted ongoing discussions about gender representation in cinema, as Jury President Maggie Gyllenhaal pointed out that only two films in the competition were directed or co-directed by women. She called this a "systemic problem," noting that women face greater challenges in securing financing for their projects. Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera defended the lack of female directors by suggesting that the quality of films submitted by women was lower, a claim that has sparked controversy and debate. Clooney, who has recently become a French citizen, used the occasion to criticize the American government, calling it a "kakistocracy"—a term meaning a country ruled by the least qualified people. He expressed concern over the influence of wealthy individuals in leadership and how they foster division among citizens. Clooney also reflected on his own career, crediting "a series of lucky accidents" for his success, including his breakthrough in the television series "ER" at the age of 34 in the mid-1990s. The festival has faced repeated criticism for the underrepresentation of female directors in its selections, a trend also seen at other major film festivals like Cannes and Berlin. This year, however, provided a platform for independent films such as "Ink," directed by British filmmaker Danny Boyle. The film explores the history of the British tabloid The Sun and its owner, Rupert Murdoch. Another notable film, "Primetime," stars Robert Pattinson as an unscrupulous television presenter inspired by real-life TV host Chris Hansen. The festival also featured several documentaries focusing on high-profile figures, including a 3h45 film about Elon Musk and a documentary on the British band Oasis. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict was a recurring theme, with four films addressing the issue, including "NAZA," directed by Israeli filmmakers who previously won an Oscar. The film examines the systems behind Israel's actions in Gaza. Additionally, the festival drew criticism for including a film titled "Dau," directed by Ilya Khrzhanovsky, which was filmed in Ukraine. The Ukrainian government condemned the project, linking it to Russian interests, while the festival defended it, citing the director's status as a political exile and critic of Vladimir Putin. French cinema received a prominent place this year, with four feature films in competition, including "Bunker" by Florian Zeller and "15/18" by Cédric Kahn. Italian directors also had a strong showing, with five films in the competition, including "Succederà questa notte," marking the return of Nanni Moretti to Venice after nearly four decades.