Venice Film Festival Starts with Hollywood Stars

• The festival will take place from August 28 to September 6, 2025.
• On the red carpet, Julia Roberts and George Clooney will appear.
• Films competing for the awards include "Frankenstein" and "Dynamite Dream".

VENICE, Italy — The biggest stars of Hollywood are gathering in Venice for the 82nd Venice Film Festival, which kicks off on Wednesday, August 28, 2025.

This festival is one of the most prestigious in the world, trailing only behind the Cannes festival, and is usually an important event in the film industry. It was founded in 1932 and initially did not have a competition, but from 1935 it has been competitive. At the festival, the Golden Lion is awarded, which was first presented in 1949.

The festival will take place from August 28 to September 6, when the winners will be announced. The festival opens with the film by Paolo Sorrentino "La Grazia".

Among the stars appearing on the red carpet are Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Emma Stone, Dwayne Johnson, Adam Sandler, and Idris Elba. This will be Roberts' debut at the festival, where she will present the drama "After the Flood", and for Johnson, who starred in the MMA fighter Mark Kerr in "The Ruining Machine".

In the main competition, films such as "Frankenstein" by Guillermo del Toro, the political thriller "Dynamite Dream" by Ketrin Bigelow, and the comedy-drama "Jay Kelly" by Noah Baumbach will compete. In addition, many films that will not participate in the competition are expected, including "After the Flood" by Luca Guadagnino and "Dead Man" by Gas Van Senta.

The festival director Alberto Barbera notes that Venice has become an important stage for films that aim for the Oscars, since the premiere of "Gravity" in 2012, which helped increase the festival's popularity among the international audience.

The festival will take place on the island of Lido, famous for its beaches and hotels. The most famous of them is Hotel Excelsior, where many celebrities stay. Initially, for transportation around the island, private water taxis are often used.

The main prize of the festival will be awarded on September 6, and this year the jury will be headed by director Oleksandr Pein.

Tags: Europe/Culture