Venice welcomes Julia Roberts, George Clooney to film festival

Key Points

• The Venice Film Festival 82nd edition opens with major Hollywood stars such as Julia Roberts and George Clooney attending.
• Films showcased include both big budget and independent productions, with some tackling current events like the Ukraine war and Gaza conflict.
• Notable directors including Werner Herzog, Jim Jarmusch, Kathryn Bigelow, and Park Chan-wook are featured in the competition.
• The festival serves as a key launchpad for Oscar contenders, and streaming giants Netflix and Amazon premiere films here.
• The jury is led by Alexander Payne, tasked with awarding the Golden Lion to one of 21 films in competition.