The red carpet is rolling once again along the canals of Venice, as the 82nd Venice International Film Festival officially kicks off today—ushering in the fall film season with star power, political undertones, and a lineup of Oscar contenders.
Opening this year’s festival is Paolo Sorrentino’s latest drama, La Grazia, a character-driven piece that marks a tonal shift from the Italian director’s typically grand cinematic style. The film stars Toni Servillo and Anna Ferzetti and has already drawn buzz as a top contender for the Golden Lion, the festival’s highest honor.
A-List Jury and Lifetime Honors
Presiding over the main competition jury is American filmmaker Alexander Payne, best known for Sideways and The Holdovers. He’ll lead the panel tasked with choosing the top film from a tightly curated global lineup.
This year, the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement will go to Hollywood icon Kim Novak and legendary director Werner Herzog, both recognized for decades of contribution to cinema.
Big Names, Bigger Stories
The Venice program is packed with major premieres from some of the world’s most influential directors:
- Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein
- Kathryn Bigelow’s explosive thriller A House of Dynamite
- Yorgos Lanthimos returns with Bugonia
- Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly, starring George Clooney and Adam Sandler
- Julia Roberts leads After the Hunt, one of the most anticipated performances of the festival
Among the breakout entries is The Voice of Hind Rajab, a harrowing drama inspired by the real-life story of a young girl killed during the conflict in Gaza. The film is already making waves for its emotional impact and political urgency.
Glamour Meets Activism
While stars like Emma Stone, Clooney, Roberts, and Dwayne Johnson are lighting up red carpets and photo calls, activists are also seizing the moment. A campaign led by Venice4Palestine is staging protests and demanding more visibility for Palestinian voices in cinema. Their message echoes through the Lido as political documentaries and dramas begin screening to global audiences.
Festival director Alberto Barbera addressed the movement, stating that while Venice is not a political platform, the films it selects often reflect the world’s most urgent conversations. “This is a space for stories,” Barbera said. “Some of them are uncomfortable. That’s exactly why they matter.”
