The Coen brothers' black comedy Burn After Reading will open the Venice Film Festival on August 27.

Starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Tilda Swinton, the film revolves around a CIA agent who loses a disc containing his memoirs. The book falls into the hands of two gym employees who attempt to sell it.

The full Venice lineup will be announced in July.

Burn After Reading marks Clooney's third collaboration with the Coens, having worked together on O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Intolerable Cruelty.

The film will be released in theatres this October.

The 65th Venice Film Festival will take place from August 27 to September 6. Ang Lee's Lust, Caution picked up the prestigious Golden Lion prize at last year's event.