"The Coen brothers' 'Burn After Reading' will open the 65th Venice Film Festival," reports Variety. "World preem of the dark spy comedy, starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton, will launch from the Venice Lido Aug. 27, ahead of its U.K. release Sept. 5 via Universal Pictures. Pic goes out Stateside via Focus Features Sept. 12" READ MORE. Read the Reuters report at LATimes.com HERE.

In recent years the Venice fest was the launch pad of major Oscar contenders like "The Queen" and "Brokeback Mountain."

Below: Brad Pitt portrays a gym employee on the run when he finds a disk containing the memoirs of a CIA agent in "Burn After Reading."

(Photo: Focus Features)