Venice Film Festival Opens with Star Power, Herzog Honor, and Gaza Protests

The 82nd Venice International Film Festival opened on Wednesday with a mix of cinematic glamour and political tension.

Hollywood heavyweights Julia Roberts and George Clooney were among the first to arrive on the Lido, joining an impressive lineup of directors including Kathryn Bigelow, Jim Jarmusch, and Paolo Sorrentino.

Herzog Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award

The opening ceremony’s centerpiece was Francis Ford Coppola presenting a Lifetime Achievement Award to acclaimed German filmmaker Werner Herzog, celebrated for his career spanning more than 70 films including Fitzcarraldo and Grizzly Man. Herzog will premiere his new documentary Ghost Elephants, exploring a lost herd in Angola, later this week.

Sorrentino and Guadagnino Lead Italian Entries

Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino unveiled the festival’s first competition title, La Grazia, a drama centered on a president facing a moral crossroads over a controversial euthanasia bill. “Allowing doubt to mature into a decision is increasingly rare,” Sorrentino told reporters.

In the secondary Orizzonti section, Mother—a provocative portrait of Mother Teresa wrestling with faith, motherhood, and abortion—opened to debate.

Later this week, Luca Guadagnino will present After the Hunt, marking Julia Roberts’ long-awaited Venice debut.

Star-Packed Premieres Ahead

Audiences can expect a packed schedule of high-profile releases, including:

• George Clooney in Noah Baumbach’s Netflix comedy Jay Kelly (Thursday).
• Emma Stone in Yorgos Lanthimos’ sci-fi satire Bugonia.
• Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein with Oscar Isaac.
• Kathryn Bigelow’s political thriller A House of Dynamite, starring Idris Elba.
• Jude Law portraying Vladimir Putin in Olivier Assayas’s The Wizard of the Kremlin.
• Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as MMA legend Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine.
• Jim Jarmusch’s ensemble drama Father Mother Sister Brother, featuring *Cate Blanchett, Adam Driver, and Tom Waits.

Protests and Politics Shape the Festival

Beyond the red carpet, global politics took center stage. Protesters unfurled a “Free Palestine” banner outside the festival hall, urging organisers to condemn Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza. A large demonstration backed by Italian rights groups is expected on Saturday.

Festival director Alberto Barbera expressed sorrow over the conflict but rejected calls to disinvite pro-Israeli figures. The war also appears on screen, with Franco-Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania’s competition entry The Voice of Hind Rajab, a reconstruction of the killing of a six-year-old Palestinian girl.

Awards Season Begins

Often a launchpad for Oscar hopefuls, Venice’s winners frequently go on to awards success. Past Golden Lion titles like Nomadland and Joker achieved global acclaim.

With politics, protest, and prestige colliding, Venice 2025 looks set to be one of the festival’s most charged editions yet.