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On most years, Venice Film Festival is a maximalist’s playground. Swaggering in on those last languid days of August, the glitzy event has been home to high drama on its silver screens and its red carpets. Think Zendaya in flesh-colored leather, the slit of her dress running up her thigh; Timothee Chalamet’s tomato-red halter-neck pantsuit; Florence Pugh in a purple Valentino set, aperol spritz in hand; Harry Styles, Chris Pine and #spitgate; Lady Gaga in a gondola.
Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
Venice was a fair bit emptier this year, thanks to a historic double-strike that has Hollywood’s writers and actors on the picket lines (or at the L.A. Beyoncé concert). But the festival must go on — and so it did, powered by buzzy films (David Fincher’s “The Killer,” Michael Mann’s “Ferrari,” Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla Presley biopic, “Priscilla”), SAG-AFTRA waivers, and a cadre of designers, models and muses.
Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
Neither was the festival without controversy. Protesters disrupted the red carpet Monday as Woody Allen debuted his 50th feature film, “Coup de Chance.” Directors Roman Polanski and Luc Besson, who have also been accused of sexual abuse, showed films this year as well.
Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
Here are some of Venice’s most memorable moments.
Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
Actor Bella Thorne channeled old Hollywood glamour at the “Priscilla” red carpet on Monday.
Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
Adam Driver, the star of “Ferrari,” which received a six-minute standing ovation at its screening on Aug. 31. The actor received a waiver from the actors union SAG-AFTRA to promote the film.
Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP
Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP
Actor Jonica T. Gibbs wears Chanel on the red carpet Aug. 31 for the film “Dogman,” in which she stars.
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images
From left, director Sofia Coppola, Priscilla Presley, Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi at the premiere of the film “Priscilla” on Monday.
Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP
Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP
One of the buzziest films of the festival was Coppola’s “Priscilla,” based on Presley’s 1985 memoir, “Elvis and Me.” Premiering on Monday, the A24 film drew a seven-minute standing ovation, as well as tears from Presley. The film stars Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla and “Euphoria” star Jacob Elordi as Elvis. A handful of actors, including Spaeny, Elordi and Adam Driver, received waivers from SAG-AFTRA to promote their films amid the strike.
Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP
Tony Leung cries after he receives the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement Award. He is best known by international audiences for his roles in Wong Kar-wai films, including the 2000 classic “In the Mood for Love.”
Ettore Ferrari/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Ettore Ferrari/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Singer and former France first lady Carla Bruni attends the red carpet for “The Lion's Share.”
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Charlotte Rampling, left, and Liliana Cavani arrive for the premiere of the film “Comandante” on Aug. 30, 2023.
Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP
Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP
Wes Anderson wears a bright seersucker suit at the red carpet for his Netflix movie “The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar,” based on the Roald Dahl novel of the same name.
Kate Green/Getty Images
Kate Green/Getty Images
People protest as director Woody Allen, who's not pictured, arrives on the red carpet.
Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
Protesters disrupted the red carpet for Allen’s new film, “Coup de Chance,” which premiered Monday. Critics blasted the film festival for screening films by Allen, Polanski and Besson, all of whom have been accused of sexual abuse. “Coup de Chance” is Allens’ 50th feature film and his first French-language one.
Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
Actress Jessica Chastain attends Giorgio Armani's “One Night In Venice.”
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images
Actor Jesse Williams attends the Amfar Gala Venezia.
Kristy Sparow/Getty Images
Kristy Sparow/Getty Images
While not promoting their own work, some Hollywood stars, including Jessie Williams and Kate Beckinsale stepped out for the Venice Amfar Gala, a charity fundraiser held by the American Foundation for AIDS Research. Singers Rita Ora and Leona Lewis were also in attendance.
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Italian model Mariacarla Boscono arrives for the film “Comandante.”
Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP
Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP
Benicio Del Toro at Giorgio Armani's “One Night In Venice.”
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images
“Euphoria” star Sydney Sweeney waves as she departs from Miu Miu “Women's Tales.”
Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP
Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP
Academy Award-winning director Jane Campion attends the opening red carpet.
John Phillips/Getty Images
John Phillips/Getty Images
Kate Beckinsale at the Amfar Gala Venezia.
Kristy Sparow/Getty Images
Kristy Sparow/Getty Images
Designer Pierpaolo Piccioli, who heads Valentino, attends the red carpet for the movie “Priscilla.”
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images
Michelle Rodriguez at Giorgio Armani's “One Night In Venice.”
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images
Jury president Damien Chazelle, left, and his wife, actress Olivia Hamilton, arrive for “Comandante.”
Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP
Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP
Model Madisin Rian attends the red carpet for the movie “Poor Things.”
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
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Credits
Photo Editing and Production by Moira Haney and Lauren Bulbin