The Venice Film Festival is the oldest film festival in the world, renowned for the debut of cinematic classics and red carpet spectacle. While the movies shown take up a lot of column inches, you can't talk about Venice without mentioning the fantastic fashion and glittering movie stars.
When you put this many famous people in one place, there's bound to be some magic moments. One particular standout was back in 1958 featuring buxom Sophia Loren aged 20, on a balcony overlooking the famous canals, very 'Dolce Vita!'
Just a few years before, British actress Diana Dors went for a gondola ride wearing... a mink bikini of course. And a pair of heels, naturally.
Jumping ahead to the 1960s, the legendary Jane Fonda appeared at the festival with her then-husband Roger Vadim (director of cult classic Barbarella).Other attendees have included Diana Ross, Sean Connery and Brigitte Bardot.
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What happens during the Venice Film Festival?
Venice is not just a film festival; it is a cultural event that is part of the larger Venice Biennale, which includes art, architecture, dance, and theatre exhibitions. This connection to broader cultural activities adds to its prestige. The festival kicks off with an opening ceremony, which includes speeches by organisers and officials, the introduction of the jury members, and the screening of the opening film. This is a glamorous event often attended by top industry figures and international celebrities.
A select group of filmmakers, critics, and industry professionals serve on the festival's jury. They watch the films in competition and deliberate on which should receive the festival's various awards. The most prestigious of these awards include:
- Golden Lion: Best Film
- Silver Lion: Best Director
- Volpi Cup: Best Actor and Best Actress
- Special Jury Prize: Given for an outstanding work that may not fit into the usual categories
The heart of the Venice Film Festival is its extensive schedule of film screenings. Films are shown across multiple sections, including:
- In Competition: The most prestigious section where films compete for the festival's top prizes, including the Golden Lion for Best Film.
- Out of Competition: Films that are showcased but not competing for the main awards. These often include big-budget Hollywood films or highly anticipated works from renowned directors.
- Horizons (Orizzonti): A section dedicated to showcasing new trends in world cinema, with an emphasis on innovation and originality.
How prestigious is the Venice Film Festival?
The Venice Film Festival is one of the most prestigious and oldest film festivals in the world. Established in 1932, it is part of the "Big Three" major international film festivals, alongside the Cannes Film Festival and the Berlin International Film Festival. The festival is held annually on the island of Lido in Venice, Italy, and is organized by La Biennale di Venezia, one of the most renowned cultural institutions globally. As the oldest film festival in the world, Venice has played a crucial role in the development of the film industry. It has been a platform for the debut of many influential films and the careers of significant directors and actors.
What is The Golden Lion?
The top prize awarded at Venice, the Golden Lion, is one of the most coveted awards in the film industry. Winning the Golden Lion can significantly elevate a film's reputation and the careers of those involved. In recent years, Venice has gained a reputation as a critical launchpad for films that go on to succeed at the Academy Awards. Many films that premiere at Venice, especially those that win major awards, often become strong contenders during awards season.
The Venice International Film Festival's vintage pictures are windows into the evolution of one of the most famous red carpets in the world and offer a glimpse into old-school Hollywood. This year is the festival's 81st and while we patiently wait to see who'll be wearing what, lets take a trip down memory lane...
The best vintage Venice Film Festival moments:
© BettmannGina Lollobrigida
Wearing a sliver evening gown and white fox fur, actress Gina Lollobrigida arrived at the Venice Film Festival to attend the premiere of her new movie Woman of Rome. The film, an Italian entry into the competition, was panned by critics and public alike, but Lollobrigida (aka: La Bella Gina) was praised for her performance.
© Keystone FeaturesElizabeth Taylor
Film actress Elizabeth Taylor was photographed with Italian actress Claudia Cardinale at a charity ball in Venice during the Film Festival in 1967, both dripping in diamonds, of course.
© BettmannBrigitte Bardot
Glamourous French star Brigitte Bardot waved to cheering fans as she rode along the Grand Canal accompanied by her guitar-player friend, Sacha Distel. Bardot's arrival at the Lido allowed a host of admirers to scramble to get a view of the blonde screen idol. She attended the opening of her film, En Cas de Malheur, at the 19th Venice Film Festival, on 2 September.
© BettmannClaudia Cardinale
Actress Claudia Cardinale made the perfect target for a team of photographers. The internationally famed star attended the festival for the presentation of her film Vaghe Stelle Dell'Orsa.
© Archivio Cameraphoto EpocheSophia Loren
Italian actress Sophia Loren standing on a terrace on the Canal Grande, wearing a white embroidered dress. At the time she was a guest at the festival, she returned a year later to collect her first award.
© ullstein bild Dtl.Romy Schneider
Austrian movie actress Romy Schneider and her mother, stage and film actress Magda Schneider, attended a showing of the film Eye for an Eye at the Mostra del Cinema.
© Universal History ArchiveJane Fonda
The party at the 400 year-old Vendramini-Calergi palace was the chicest event of the 28th Venice Film Festival, and actress Jane Fonda and then-husband, Roger Vadim, took it all in their stride. Other guests at the bash included Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
© Horace AbrahamsDiana Dors
British actress Diana Dors, wore a mink bikini whilst riding in a gondola past St Mark's Square, during the Venice film festival, on 5 May.
© KeystoneWallis Simpson
Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII met and fell in love, and what followed was mass scrutiny and a media berating that led to their eventual exit from England and royal duties which was immortalised in The King's Speech. The pair took a stroll at the Lido, in Venice when they attended the International Film Festival.
© KeystoneSean Connery
Scottish actor Sean Connery having some fun on the famous canals of Venice.
© Mondadori PortfolioDiana Ross
Diana Ross with the statue of the 'Golden Lion' (Il Leone D'oro) at the Venice Film Festival, during the award ceremony for the movie Lady Sings the Blues in 1972.
