The out-of-competition Coen Bros. film “Burn After Reading” which stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich and Tilda Swinton is a dark comedy about two fitness trainers in Washington who accidentally find themselves in possession of the explosive memoirs of a former C.I.A. agent. Both Pitt and Clooney are attending the festival (Pitt with sons Maddox and Pax.)

Other films, in competition for the Golden Lion include Guillermo Arriaga’s “Burning Plain,” in which a woman (Charlize Theron) and her mother (Kim Basinger) struggle to re-establish a troubled relationship on a better footing. Arriaga, best known as a screenwriter (”21 Grams” and “Babel“) makes his directorial debut.

Darren Aronofsky returns to Venice after mixed reactions to his film “The Fountain” two years ago. His film, “The Wrestler” stars Mickey Rourke playing a retired pro trying to make a comeback with the aid of an ex-stripper (Marisa Tomei.)

Kathryn Bigelow directs the drama “The Hurt Locker” about the vicissitudes of American bomb disposal specialists in Iraq. The cast is headed by Ralph Fiennes.

“Silence of the Lambs” director Jonathan Demme submits to competition “Rachel Getting Married” – a story about a former model (Anne Hathaway) who emerges from yet another stint in rehab to attend the wedding of her sister (Rosemarie DeWitt).