The 82nd Venice International Film Festival has officially unfurled its signature red carpets, welcoming a dazzling array of stars and the premieres of some of the year’s most anticipated films. As the world’s oldest film festival, Venice has always been a magnet for cinematic innovation and glamorous spectacle, and this year is proving no exception. With the festival running through September 6, 2025, the opening days have already seen a flurry of headline-making arrivals, show-stopping fashion, and the unveiling of films that are sure to shape the coming awards season.
Among the most buzzed-about moments was Julia Roberts’ long-awaited debut at Venice. According to the Associated Press, Roberts took center stage at the premiere of Luca Guadagnino’s psychosexual drama, After the Hunt, on the evening of August 29. The film, set in the world of higher education, casts Roberts as a beloved professor whose life is upended when her mentee, played by Ayo Edebiri, accuses a close colleague (Andrew Garfield) of misconduct. The movie, which also features Guadagnino regulars Michael Stuhlbarg and Chloë Sevigny, is playing out of competition at the festival by studio request, despite Venice chief Alberto Barbera noting it was strong enough for the main awards slate. After the Hunt will see its North American theatrical release on October 10, courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios.
Guadagnino’s return to the Lido is just one highlight in a program packed with world premieres. As Variety reports, the festival’s opening days have featured the unveiling of Yorgos Lanthimos’ sci-fi/comedy Bugonia, starring Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone, Guillermo del Toro’s lavish adaptation of Frankenstein, Benny Safdie’s UFC biopic The Smashing Machine, and Kathryn Bigelow’s explosive drama A House of Dynamite. Other celebrated filmmakers with new works in the lineup include Mona Fastvold, Paolo Sorrentino, Jim Jarmusch, Park Chan-wook, Gus Van Sant, Lucrezia Martel, László Nemes, and Kaouther Ben Hania. This year’s festival jury is headed by Alexander Payne, acclaimed director of films such as The Holdovers and Sideways.
Venice has long served as a springboard for the awards season, and the 2025 edition is already being hailed as a launchpad for major Oscar contenders. The festival’s prestige is matched by its fashion legacy, with the red carpet drawing nearly as much attention as the films themselves. As Vogue notes, the style bar has been set high from the very first premieres, echoing iconic moments from past years like Lady Gaga’s white feathered Valentino couture gown in 2018 and Zendaya’s wet-look Balmain dress in 2021. This year, Julia Roberts, Emma Stone, George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, and Colman Domingo are among the stars making sartorial statements on the Lido.
George Clooney, in particular, captured headlines for both his resilience and his style. According to Page Six and People, the 64-year-old Hollywood veteran was forced to skip a series of promotional appearances for his new film Jay Kelly due to a “bad sinus infection.” Nevertheless, he rallied for the movie’s premiere on August 28, walking the red carpet in a classic black tuxedo alongside his wife, Amal Clooney, who turned heads in a strapless fuchsia minidress with a dramatic train. Clooney was briefly seen coughing but quickly composed himself, smiling for photographers and fans. The couple’s appearance—after arriving in Venice days earlier—was a highlight of the festival’s opening week.
Jay Kelly, directed by Noah Baumbach, is a showbiz dramedy in which Clooney plays a fictionalized version of himself, with Adam Sandler as his character’s manager. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on November 14. Critics have been quick to praise Clooney’s performance, with some calling it “the performance of a lifetime,” while Sandler is also singled out for his “wrenching moments.” Baumbach, addressing reporters at a Netflix event, explained Clooney’s earlier absence, saying, “As you may know, George Clooney is not gonna be here because he has a bad sinus infection. We think he should be on the red carpet tonight, but he is very sorry he cannot be with us.” He added with a chuckle, “Even movie stars get sick.”
Fashion has been front and center throughout the festival’s opening days. Emma Stone, who stars in Bugonia, turned heads at her film’s premiere on August 28 in a floor-length silver gown, as reported by People. Jesse Plemons, her co-star, suited up for the occasion, while Alicia Silverstone made a rare appearance on the red carpet. Riley Keough, Greta Gerwig, and Noah Baumbach were also among the notables at the Jay Kelly premiere. Cate Blanchett dazzled in an Armani Privé gown at the opening night of Paolo Sorrentino’s La Grazia, and Tilda Swinton brought classic elegance to the Opening Night Gala with her black and white ensemble. Heidi Klum and her daughter Leni, as well as Adam Sandler in his trademark casual style, added to the festival’s eclectic fashion mix.
The festival’s star power extends beyond the premieres. Before the official kickoff, the likes of George and Amal Clooney, Emma Stone, Greta Gerwig, and Laura Dern were spotted arriving in Venice, setting the stage for an eventful fortnight. Emma Stone was joined by her husband, Dave McCary, and their four-year-old daughter, Louise Jean, making the festival a family affair for some attendees.
Critical reception has been swift and varied. Variety describes Jay Kelly as “a lightly diverting but overly soft inside-Hollywood drama,” with Clooney’s character mirroring his real-life persona—“a beloved movie star just like Clooney… except for the cold dark side we don’t quite believe.” Meanwhile, Bugonia is lauded for its “riveting duel” between Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, with director Lanthimos at the top of his “visionary nihilistic game.” Paolo Sorrentino’s La Grazia opened the festival with a presidential drama praised for its understated approach, starring Toni Servillo as Italy’s president.
With the festival only just beginning, anticipation is building for further premieres, including Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine, and Kathryn Bigelow’s A House of Dynamite. The coming days promise more red carpet moments, critical debates, and perhaps the first hints at this year’s major award contenders. For ongoing coverage and the latest updates, festivalgoers and film fans alike are keeping a close eye on Venice, where cinema and style continue to intersect in spectacular fashion.
As the 82nd Venice Film Festival unfolds, it’s clear that the event remains a vital and glamorous launchpad for the global film industry, setting the tone for the months—and awards—yet to come.
