The Ides of March, the new film written & directed by George Clooney, will be the opening film – in Competition – at the 68th Venice International Film Festival scheduled to take place from August 31st to September 10, 2011.

Based on Beau Willimon’s play Farragut North, screenplay written by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon, The Ides of March is set in the near future, in the world of American politics during the Democratic primaries in Ohio for the presidential elections. It tells the story of a young, idealistic press secretary (Ryan Gosling) who works for one of the presidential candidates, Governor Mike Morris (George Clooney), and despite himself becomes dangerously involved in the ambient deceit and corruption.

Along with Ryan Gosling and George Clooney, The Ides of March also stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, Jeffrey Wright, Max Minghella, and Evan Rachel Wood.

The Ides of March is the fourth film directed by George Clooney.