Cate Blanchett and Jenna Ortega lead as best dressed stars of the festival’s opening night.

The Oscar-winning director posed for press shots in a T-shirt that read ‘Writers Guild On Strike’ as well as a matching button.

Colin Farrell has won the best actor award at the 79th Venice International Film Festival

Cate Blanchett and Colin Farrell won the top acting prizes.

The Hollywood heavyweights were pictured arriving for the event on Tuesday evening ahead of the premiere of their film Dead For A Dollar

At a press conference before the premiere of Don't Worry Darling, Styles was peppered with questions about his fans and his career

Hordes of fans greeted the Oscar-nominated actor, many holding pictures of his face.

British talent including Jodie Turner-Smith and Pixie Lott were also pictured on the red carpet as the 79th annual festival kicked off on Wednesday.

Chloe Zhao’s Nomadland, a recession-era road trip drama starring Frances McDormand, won the Golden Lion for best film at the Venice Film Festival, held against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.

Films starring Dame Helen Mirren, Jim Broadbent, Shia LaBeouf and Vanessa Kirby are among those set to premiere at the Venice International Film Festival in September.

Venice has conducted a trial run of an ambitious anti-flood system of 78 inflatable barriers in the hope of protecting the city from devastating high tides.

Underwater barriers in Venice have passed their first emergency with flying colours, protecting the Italian lagoon city from a tide that peaked at 130cm, a level that would normally inundate about half of the city.