MUMBAI: The George Clooney-directed The Ides of March will open the 68th Venice Film Festival on 31 August.
 
Ides, based on Farragut North by Beau Willimon, stars Clooney as a governor with presidential ambitions, Ryan Gosling as his press spokesman and Paul Giamatti as a rival campaign manager. In addition to directing the film, Clooney wrote the screen adaptation with Grant Heslov and also served as one of the producers.
 
Clooney, who is expected to be present at the festival, will bring along the political drama. Two years ago, Clooney was there with The Men Who Stare at Goats, in which he starred. In 2005, he picked up a number of prizes for his Good Night, and Good Luck.
 
Sony is set to release the film on 7 October in America while Exclusive, that launched the film at last year’s American Film Market, is handling the international release of the film.