Go behind the scenes at the 2020 Venice Film Festival with photographer Greg Williams

This year’s unprecedented events have predictably left their mark on the global awards circuit. However, on 2 September, the 2020 Venice Film Festival opened its doors—albeit in a slightly more subdued (and socially distanced) way than usual. As the first international festival to take place in real life since the start of the pandemic, it has quickly become the film industry’s hopeful shot in the arm, providing the world with a welcome injection of red-carpet glitz and glamour. 

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Who better to capture the stars of this year’s rich roster of films, judged by the Cate Blanchett-led competition jury, than British photographer Greg Williams? After beginning his career as a war photographer, Williams fast made a reputation for himself photographing Hollywood’s biggest names—from Brad Pitt to Lady Gaga and Meryl Streep—in unscripted, intimate settings. “Venice is, to my mind, the most glamorous of all the film festivals, and this year, it will be the only major, non-virtual, festival,” says Williams. “It felt like the clouds finally opened for a couple of weeks.”

Join him here for an exclusive look behind the scenes of the 77th annual Venice Film Festival.