Venice 2026: Barbera on studio absences and few women in Golden Lion race

Venice Film Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera unveiled the lineup for the 83rd edition, his 19th selection in the role. He addressed the absence of major studios from the programme, the lack of female directors competing for the Golden Lion, and distributor Neon's decision to pull Luca Guadagnino's new film "Artificial" from the festival. Barbera's term has been extended to 2027 and 2028.