- Title: ITALY: The Venice film festival opens with a star studded line up
- Date: 30th August 2007
- Summary: WIDE 'ATONEMENT' CAST POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
- Embargoed: 14th September 2007 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Italy
- Country: Italy
- Reuters ID: LVA7UIPOKQX51IENAVRQ29PFXEXJ
- Story Text: Cinema fans, film critics, actors and directors have arrived at the opening ceremony of the 64th Venice film festival.
The Venice Film Festival kicked off on Wednesday (August 29) with an opening ceremony and Joe Wright's 'Atonement', the screen adaptation of Ian McEwan's acclaimed novel. Hundreds of fans waited for hours by the red carpet hoping to get a glimpse of their favourite stars. Atonement cast, including Keira Knightley, James McAvoy and Vanessa Redgrave arrived at the red carpet, posed to hundreds of photographers and signed autographs.
"Very excited," Knightley said when asked about coming to Venice.
"Nice, nervous. Because I hope the Venetians like this film," her co-star McAvoy said.
The festival gets serious this year with competition films about the Iraq war and its impact on U.S. society, police brutality in Egypt, big corporation corruption and the mafia in Italy.
There are 22 movies vying for the coveted Golden Lion award at the end of the 11-day celebration of cinema, famous for red carpet glamour, late night parties on the canals of Venice and critical kudos of being part of the world's oldest film contest. Chinese director Zhang Yimou chairs the seven-member jury. One of the jury members, Mexican director Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu ('Babel', '21 Grams', 'Amores Perros') said he is happy to be in the jury.
"On the other side.. it's strange to tell you the truth but I am going to enjoy the films," he added.
Director Marco Mueller has assembled a Hollywood-heavy line up for this year's festival. Two competition films are about Iraq, part of a spate of movies on the topic due to hit theatres over the coming months.
Paul Haggis' "In the Valley of Elah", starring Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron and Susan Sarandon, is the eagerly anticipated film based on the real-life murder of a young soldier who returned to the United States from Iraq.
It is up against Brian De Palma's "Redacted", which tells the story of a U.S. army unit that persecutes an Iraqi family and also examines the way media cover the conflict.
There will be comedy too, notably Wes Anderson's "The Darjeeling Limited" starring Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Anjelica Huston and Bill Murray.
But its launch on the Lido waterfront is likely to be overshadowed by news of Wilson's hospitalisation this weekend.
The 38-year-old had been expected in Venice for the premiere, but that now looks unlikely. His spokeswoman has declined to discuss Wilson's medical condition after media reports he attempted suicide.
Also tackling topical issues in Venice are "Michael Clayton", starring George Clooney as a "fixer" who does a major corporation's dirty work, Italy's "Il Dolce e L'Amaro" about the mafia, and Egypt's "Heya Fawda" investigating police brutality.
The annual festival, whichon Sept. 8, is both a key showcase of art house cinema and an early marker ahead of the Oscars in February.
Ang Lee's "Brokeback Mountain" won the Golden Lion for best film in 2005, and went on to garner eight Oscar nominations. The long list of stars expected this year will be hoping to generate similar early buzz.
Other highlights in competition include Brad Pitt in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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