Venice Film Festival 2025 is officially underway, and you know what that means. Water taxis! Sunglasses! Standing ovations! Glam! Gowns! And no anti-nudity dress codes — so take that, Cannes!
Wednesday saw this year’s longest standing ovation so far, with a record 24 minutes of clapping for The Voice of Hind Rajab, a film about a young Palestinian girl who was killed by Israeli forces last year. Lovebirds Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix, who co-produced the film, captivated the red carpet beforehand.
The official selection for this year’s festival also includes Yorgos Lanthimos’s latest creation, Bugonia, starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, as well as Guillermo del Toro’s much-anticipated take on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, with Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth.
Equally star-studded is the new film by Noah Baumbach (indie filmmaker husband of Greta Gerwig), which boasts a cast of George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Emily Mortimer and Eve Hewson, among many other A-listers.
Then there’s Park Chan-wook’s black comedy No Other Choice, Jim Jarmusch’s comedy-drama anthology Father Mother Sister Brother, starring Cate Blanchett, and the Rebecca Ferguson and Idris Elba-fronted political thriller, A House of Dynamite.
The latter had a particularly dramatic red carpet, although the standout was easily Greta Lee in her gift-wrap-esque bow mini dress by Dior. Lee, who was once a global grand ambassador for Loewe, appears to have followed designer Jonathan Anderson from Spain to France, as part of his move from creative director of Loewe to creative director of Dior women’s and men’s.
The red carpet may be the main event, but the real fun starts at the parties, held in top-secret venues and grand crumbling palazzos. Miu Miu hosted a glamorous event to celebrate the continuation of their Women’s Tales series, a succession of films made by female directors.
More Miu Miu highlights have come courtesy of Myha’la Herrold, the star of BBC’s Industry and Dead Man’s Wire, who has been turning out look after look from the brand. Her best? The backless, honey-coloured dress with delicate petal-styled sequins which she wore on Tuesday, paired perfectly with the actress’s wire-thin brows, tattoos and afro.
Meanwhile, last Friday night, the hottest seat in town was at a dinner given by Cartier and film magazine A Rabbit’s Foot. Two generations of Coppola were there, as well as a dapper-looking Jacob Elordi in an unbuttoned shirt. Bellissimo.
Tilda Swinton delivered the first big fashion moment of the festival, captivating Wednesday’s red carpet crowds with her custom Chanel look. The outfit featured a white silk crepe blouse with ruffled, bow-detail cuffs and a wide black silk mikado skirt.
It was sleek, chic, and oh so significant: Swinton’s appearance offered fashion enthusiasts a peek into what former Bottega Veneta boss Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel might look like and — this just in — there’s no tweed in sight.
Last Thursday, it was Emma Stone who topped the best-dressed list, arriving at the Bugonia press conference wearing a black asymmetric lace cocktail dress by Louis Vuitton. With a halter neckline and a semi-sheer skirt, it was a twist on the traditional LBD.
An honourable mention for last Thursday has to go to Italian actress Alba Rohrwacher, whose delightful folded gold top and matching grey-gold trousers have us seething with envy. As it turns out, this was a sneak peek into Jonathan Anderson’s new womenswear work at Dior.
The first weekend of Venice Film Festival was entirely won by Jacob Elordi, a walking mannequin for Bottega Veneta menswear, now helmed by Louise Trotter.
Last Friday, Ayo Edebiri put the red in red carpet with her deconstructed Chanel gown, while her co-star Chloe Sevigny went full drama in a lace, balloon-skirted look by Saint Laurent.
And last Sunday was the Cate Blanchett show, with the Australian actress donning her best gown yet — Maison Margiela AW25 couture, no less — for the red carpet of her film, Father Mother Sister Brother.
All the best looks from Venice Film Festival 2025
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