Google has reportedly been reaching out to a number of Hollywood's biggest studios to negotiate licensing agreements. ^[1] The Venice Film Festival officially began its opening ceremony. ^[2] Al Jazeera reported on 2026-09-02 that Gen Z audiences are increasingly skipping Hollywood blockbusters in favor of low-budget indie films. ^[3] Google would provide massive piles of cash to the studios in exchange for the licensing rights. ^[4] The proposed licensing agreements would allow Google to train its AI models on copyrighted material. ^[5] Major Hollywood studios and actors are withdrawing from the event. ^[6] The Hollywood industry is currently in a state of retreat from the Venice Film Festival. ^[7] According to the same Al Jazeera report, these indie films are often produced by YouTubers and even a mother and son working on a home computer. ^[8] The article explains that the economics of the film industry are changing, which is enabling independent creators to compete with Hollywood. ^[9] The deals are described as a win-win scenario where studios receive a huge financial boon and Google gains a significant advantage in the AI race. ^[10] The retreat of Hollywood figures highlights a growing disconnect between the festival and the mainstream film industry. ^[11]