
The Venice Film Festival kicks off on Wednesday with the return of Hollywood royalty to Italy's swanky movie showcase, where 21 films from around the globe will vie for the prestigious Golden Lion award.
Julia Roberts and George Clooney are the biggest names expected at the 82nd edition of the world's longest-running festival, with a cavalcade of respected film directors, from Kathryn Bigelow and Guillermo del Toro to Jim Jarmusch, all due to arrive on the sandy Lido across the Venice lagoon.