Pictures: Venice opens 'miraculous' film festival, but veterans lament

Director of the 77th Venice International Film Festival, Alberto Barbera bumps elbows with President of the jury Cate Blanchett. The world's oldest film festival opened Wednesday under a slew of anti-COVID protocols, with the few A-list celebrities making the trip wearing face masks and the general public largely absent.

British actress Tilda Swinton arrives for the opening ceremony and the screening of the film "Lacci" on the opening day of the 77th Venice Film Festival. Tilda Swinton who was awarded a lifetime achievement Golden Lion gave them a treat for their persistence, sporting a gilded Venetian-style masquerade mask and offering a tribute to the lagoon city for having dared to have the festival at all.

Jury President Cate Blanchett, center, waits for the start of the opening ceremony. Cate Blanchett said it was "miraculous'' that the festival came off at all. But for veteran Venice festival-goers, the new restrictions created unprecedented hurdles that threatened to shut them out.

President of the jury Cate Blanchett poses. The world's oldest film festival opened under a slew of anti-COVID protocols, with the few A-list celebrities making the trip wearing face masks and the general public largely absent.

Master of Ceremonies and festival sponsor, Italian actress Anna Foglietta (L) and Director of the Venice Film festival, Alberto Barbera declare the festival open.

British actress Tilda Swinton blows a kiss as she poses on the red carpet after she received a Golden Lion award for Lifetime Achievement during the opening ceremony on the opening day of the 77th Venice Film Festival.

Actress Ester Exposito poses for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony. Paparazzi who in past years rented boats to chase stars as they crossed the lagoon to the Lido filmed the opening arrivals from special, socially-distanced spots along the red carpet. Masked guards took temperatures at nearly every turn, and no jostling, crowding or cramming was allowed.

A dressed-up guest arrives for the opening ceremony and the screening of the film "Lacci" on the opening day. Jury president Cate Blanchett said it was ``miraculous'' that the festival came off at all.

Taylor Hill attends the gala ceremony of the 77th Venice International Film Festival in Venice.

Festival attendees cycle in front of the main cinema during the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice.

Italian composer and conductor Andrea Morricone (R) acknowledges applause after he conducted string ensemble "Roma Sinfonietta" playing "Deborah's Theme" from his father, late Italian composer Ennio Morricone's soundtrack "Once Upon A Time in America", as part of a homage to Morricone during the opening ceremony of the 77th Venice Film Festival, at Venice Lido, during the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. - Ennio Morricone died on July 6, 2020 in Rome aged 91.

From right, actors Luigi Lo Cascio, Linda Caridi and Laura Morante with director Daniele Luchetti and actor Adriano Giannini pose during the photo call for the movie Lacci opening the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival at the Venice Lido. Italy was among the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, and the festival will serve as a celebration of its re-opening and a sign that the film world, largely on pause since March, is coming back as well.

Actress Linda Caridi poses for photographers upon arrival.