New George Clooney movie to open Venice Festival

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New George Clooney movie to open Venice Festival

The Associated Press Published Wednesday, June 22, 2011 8:50AM EDT

George Clooney and his girlfriend Italian actress Elisabetta Canalis pose on the red carpet at the 4th edition of the Rome Film Festival, in Rome, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. (AP / Andrew Medichini, File)

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VENICE, Italy - George Clooney's highly anticipated new movie about a U.S. presidential campaign will open this year's Venice Film Festival.

"The Ides of March" stars Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Festival organizers said Wednesday that the movie will be competing for the coveted Golden Lion award. The film will have its world premiere screening on Aug. 31 following the festival's opening ceremony.

The festival runs through Sept.10.

The Oscar-winning Clooney has often attended the Venice film fest. The Hollywood star has a villa on Lake Como and an Italian girlfriend.