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Home , Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton

20 Friday Lifestyle | Movies Friday, September 4, 2020 opens with tribute to coronavirus victims

(From Left) Jury member Italian writer Nicola Lagioia, President of the Roberto Cicutto, Jury member British direc- tor , Jury member US Matt Dillon, Jury member German director Christian Petzold, Jury member Austrian direc- tor Veronika Franz, Director of the Venice Film festival Alberto Barbera, Jury President Australian-US actress and British actress arrives for the opening ceremony Jury member French actress pose as they arrive for the opening ceremony and the screening of the film “Lacci” and the screening of the film “Lacci” on the opening day of the on the opening day of the 77th Venice Film Festival, on Wednesday. —AFP photos 77th Venice Film Festival.

he Venice Film Festival opened Wednesday with a tribute ers hope the movies themselves will take center stage as the film the ceremony, gave an impassioned tribute to the victims of to those who lost their lives from coronavirus as the event industry makes tentative steps to regain its footing. coronavirus and the doctors, nurses and medical professionals Tsought to kickstart the industry still reeling from the ef- President of the jury Australian actress Cate Blanchett, who sought to save lives during the pandemic, which has killed fects of the crisis. The festival, rolling out on the glitzy beach- dressed in a sparkling black gown with dramatic white trim, over 35,000 people in Italy. front Lido through September 12, is the first major international saluted the work of the festival’s organizers at the opening cere- festival to take place since COVID-19 shuttered theatres, halted mony. “We are here and we did it,” said Blanchett in Italian, be- Strangers in the dark production and drove millions of moviegoers around the world fore switching into English. “Being here tonight seems like some The festival held annually on the swanky Lido-which over the to their television sets. Although the scaled-down event will kind of wondrous miracle,” said the Academy Award-winning decades has attracted celebrity heavyweights from Sophia offer less red-carpet glamour this year, with most of Holly- actress, her jury seated in the theatre’s first row of seats due to Loren to -will this year award its top prize, the wood’s A-listers staying away due to travel restrictions, organiz- coronavirus regulations. Italian actress Anna Foglietta, host of , to one of 18 films in the main competition. Earlier in the day at a news conference, Blanchett saluted the “infinite creativity and resilience” of film-makers during the coronavirus lockdown. “Over the last few months... in our isolated bubbles we’ve been sustained by streaming images and stories into our living rooms, but I think there has been a vital component that’s been missing and that’s back here tonight,” she said. “Strangers gath- ering in the dark in anticipation of a collective experience, an event.” British actress Tilda Swinton garnered a standing ova-

Italian composer and conductor Andrea Morricone (right) acknowledges applause after he conducted string ensemble “Roma British actress Tilda Swinton blows a kiss as she poses on the Sinfonietta” playing “Deborah’s Theme” from his father, late Italian composer Ennio Morricone’s soundtrack “Once Upon A Time in red carpet after she received a Golden Lion award for Lifetime America”, as part of a homage to Morricone during the opening ceremony of the 77th Venice Film Festival. Achievement during the opening ceremony.