The best red carpet appearances at the 80th Venice Film Festival

There are few red carpets as lauded as those of the major film festivals. Earlier in May, the Cannes Film Festival unravelled itself on the French Riviera and brought a throng of stars to its grounds. Next on the list? The Venice Film Festival, which just kicked off earlier today. Bearing in mind the events of the SAG-AFTRA strike—where all promotional tours and film productions have been halted in the midst of serious negotiations—the final line-up of films set to premiere in Venice have indefinitely altered, but the committee has publicly made it known that the events of the festival will still go on. Whilst the delay of some highly-anticipated films such as the release of Zendaya’s psychosexual thriller Challengers might affect the number of appearances we can soon anticipate at the Lido, there is no question that the film festival’s red carpet will still prove to be a nest of sartorial wonder. 

Case in point? Its opening ceremony and first day turnout, which includes that of the Italian model Mariacarla Boscono who arrived in a flooring crimson gown—completed by a face-framing hood and structured bodice. Whilst the model’s evening dress was courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana, many others opted for the sophisticated allure of embellished gowns or alternative silhouettes. See Toni Garrn’s metallic number off Alberta Ferretti’s catalogue, Madisin Rian’s sequinned Armani Privé gown or Shu Qi’s waistcoat silhouette from Alberta Ferretti.

And whilst the likes of film festival stalwarts such as Zendaya or her fellow Dune co-star Timothée Chalamet herself may have had to call a hard pass on this year’s iteration, perhaps a 180 head turn to the rest of the expected film premieres might grant a generous glean of who to expect on the red carpet in the days to come. Think A-list names such as Jessica Chastain for Michel Franco’s Memory, Angelina Jolie for El Conde and Emma Stone for Yorgos Lanthimos’s Poor Things. 

Feast your eyes on the best red carpet moments at the 80th Venice Film Festival—with more to come over the next few days.