Festival, film, high society. The joy of Venice

Guests and photographers anxiously awaited the arrival of the American actress—winner of the highest awards for her art at the festivals in Berlin (The Hours, 2002), Cannes (Maps to the Stars, 2014) and Venice (Far from Heaven, 2002) and an Oscar (Still Alice, 2014), BAFTA and Emmy award—, who made a punctual entrance.

Dressed in a black silk dress with yellow polka dots and bustier with leather cone cups designed by Maison Alaïa, she showed up a few minutes before the official start of the private party and paused for the ritual photos and interviews on the stunning terrace of the Hotel Danieli, welcomed by Claudio Staderini, General Manager, later disappearing and reappearing several times during the evening. Indeed, the actress also participated simultaneously in the opening event of the Academy of Motion Picture, Arts and Sciences in collaboration with Mastercard and Cinecittà in the Great Hall of the Scuola Grande della Misericordia.

Sampling timeless delicacies, such as sour cream blinis with Calvisius caviar, foie gras with grape must and flower salad and drinks dedicated to the actress, such as the Lioness Julianne cocktail created by Roberto Naccari, Head Barista at the Hotel Danieli, with music mixed by Joe T Vannelli, the guests enjoyed sundown over the Lagoon on a cloudy but warm evening.

In Venice there is no Film Festival without high society

The many guests included some of the stars of the next few days at the Lido. From the director Alberto Barbera, to Roberto Cicutto, President of the Biennale, and numerous members of the Venezia 79 jury, such as film directors Mariano Cohn, Leonardo di Costanzo and Rodrigo Sorogoyen and the actresses Leila Hatami and Audrey Diwan, as well as the beautiful Tessa Thompson and Sophie Reyes. Also, Tiziana Rocca, former director of the Taormina Film Festival and Greta Ferro, famous actress for the TV series Made in Italy in which she played Irene.

The red carpets and parties have only just begun. Today, August 31, the festival officially got underway with the arrival in Venice of international press, actors, directors and critics. The occasion is also an ideal opportunity to open new boutiques. The Florentine designer Ermanno Scervino cut the ribbon at his new store in Calle XXII Marzo and is also behind the designs worn for the occasion by celebrities, including the Brazilian super model Alessandra Ambrosio who wore a double-breasted cady blazer and a short silk georgette slip with rebrodé lace appliques and the Italian model Elisa Sednaoui, for whom the designer chose an oversized suit in fade cady tech with coordinated cropped corset.

It will instead be the first time for Diane von Furstenberg, who, on September 1 at the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista, is organizing the 13th edition of the DVF Award, conceived more than a decade ago to reward, support and amplify the voices of extraordinary women who are committed to improving the lives of other women. The event hosted by Alessandra Galloni, Editor-In-Chief of Reuters and Global News Editor at Thomson Reuters and Clarissa Ward, Chief International Correspondent for CNN will also be attended by Hillary Rodham Clinton and will present awards to, among others, the President of the Central European Bank Christine Lagarde, director and activist Ava DuVernay, Ukrainian educator Zoya Lytvyn, climate activist Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim and ten exceptional women from Afghanistan who are working to ensure a safe and sustainable future for the most vulnerable Afghan women and girls.