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2017 Venice Film Festival | Entertainment News, Photos, and Videos

Oscar Winner Octavia Spencer Looks Gorgeous at Her Big Premiere in Venice!

Octavia Spencer stuns on the red carpet while attending the premiere of her film The Shape of Water at the 2017 Venice Film Festival on Thursday (August 31) in Venice, Italy.

The Oscar-winning actress was joined at the event by her co-stars Richard Jenkins and Sally Hawkins along with writer/director Guillermo del Toro.

This was the film’s world premiere and it will play the festival circuit before hitting theaters for all audiences on December 8.

FYI: Octavia is wearing a Tadashi Shoji dress and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.

20+ pictures inside of Octavia Spencer at the premiere… More Here! »

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Ethan Hawke Gets Support from Ex Uma Thurman & Son Levon at 'First Reformed' Venice Premiere!

Amanda Seyfried and Ethan Hawke keep close on the red carpet while attending the premiere of their latest film First Reformed held during the 2017 Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on Thursday (August 31) in Venice, Italy.

The 31-year-old actress and Ethan, 46, were joined by director Paul Schrader, who also accompanied them to the photo call earlier in the day.

Also in attendance to show their support was Ethan‘s ex wife Uma Thurman and their 15-year-old son Levon Thurman-Hawke, as well as Jury member Rebecca Hall.

Ethan and Uma, 43, were married for six years before divorcing in 2004. The pair also have a 19-year-old daughter Maya together.

FYI: Amanda is wearing an Alexander McQueen dress with Chopard jewelry. Rebecca is wearing a Prada vanilla silk georgette gown.

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Matt Damon & Kristen Wiig Debut 'Downsizing' First Teaser at Venice Film Fest - Watch Here!

Kristen Wiig takes a moment to pose for photographs while making her way out of the Hotel Excelsior during the 2017 Venice Film Festival on Thursday (August 31) in Venice, Italy.

The 43-year-old actress was followed closely behind by her Downsizing co-star Matt Damon, who was joined by his wife Luciana Barroso the evening before at their big opening ceremony premiere.

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Kristen Wiig

Synopsis: When scientists discover how to shrink humans to five inches tall as a solution to over-population, Paul (Damon) and his wife Audrey (Wiig) decide to abandon their stressed lives in order to get small and move to a new downsized community – a choice that triggers life-changing adventures.

Downsizing also stars Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau and Jason Sudeikis – see the teaser below and check back for the full trailer on September 12!


‘Downsizing’ Cast Intro Teaser Trailer

FYI: Kristen is wearing an Oscar de la Renta top and skirt, Jacquie Aiche jewelry, Casadei shoes and Ferragamo sunglasses.

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Octavia Spencer & Sally Hawkins Hit Venice Film Fest To Promote 'Shape of Water'!

Octavia Spencer is all smiles as she arrives at the photo call for her latest film The Shape Of Water held during the 2017 Venice Film Festival on Thursday (August 31) in Venice, Italy.

The 47-year-old actress was joined at the event by her co-stars Sally Hawkins and Richard Jenkins, as well as director Guillermo del Toro, producers Matthew Greenfield and J. Miles Dale, cinematographer Dan Laustsen and composer Alexandre Desplat.

The Shape of Water is set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1963. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Hawkins) is trapped in a life of silence and isolation. Elisa’s life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment. Michael Shannon, Michael Stuhlbarg and Doug Jones are also featured in the film – Watch the trailer here!

FYI: Octavia is wearing a Tadashi Shoji dress.

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Amanda Seyfried Joins Ethan Hawke at 'First Reformed' Venice Film Fest Photo Call!

Amanda Seyfried keeps it cute and classy while arriving at the photo call for her latest film First Reformed held during the 2017 Venice Film Festival at Sala Casino on Thursday (August 31) in Venice, Italy.

The 31-year-old actress was joined by her co-star Ethan Hawke and director Paul Schrader as they promoted the flick, which follows an ex-military chaplain (Hawke), who is wrecked by grief over the death of his son. Seyfried plays a member of his church whose husband, a radical environmentalist, commits suicide, setting the plot in motion.

“[Religion] was a very important dialogue in my head, having been surrounded by it my whole life,” Ethan expressed at the press conference (via Variety). “When I was born, my great-great-grandmother had a clear sense that I was going to be a priest and told everyone that I should be paying attention to the calling if it ever came. So I used to pray that the calling wouldn’t come. And thank God it didn’t.”

“It wasn’t hard for me to get into this character because I can put a lot of myself into it,” Ethan concluded.

FYI: Amanda is wearing a Valentino dress.

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Matt Damon Gets Support from Wife Luciana at 'Downsizing' Venice Film Fest Opening Ceremony Premiere!

Matt Damon is dapper in a suit while hitting the red carpet with his gorgeous wife Luciana Barroso at the premiere of his latest film Downsizing held during the opening ceremony of the 2017 Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on Wednesday (August 30) in Venice, Italy.

The 46-year-old actor and Luciana were joined at the big event by co-stars Kristen Wiig and Hong Chau, as well as Jury members Annette Bening and Rebecca Hall, who was accompanied by her husband Morgan Spector.

Also in attendance was Victoria’s Secret model Izabel Goulart.

FYI: Kristen is wearing a Zuhair Murad couture gown with Giuseppe Zanotti heels and Buccellati jewelry. Hong is wearing an Elie Saab gown. Annette is wearing Giorgio Armani. Rebecca is wearing Armani Privé. Izabel is wearing an Alberta Ferretti dress.

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Annette Bening On Lack of Female Directors at Venice Film Fest: 'Sexism Does Exist But Things Are Changing'

Jury president at this year’s Venice Film Festival, Annette Bening – the first woman jury head in more than a decade – isn’t too worried about the lack of diversity in the lineup.

The 74th Venice Film Festival only has one film directed by a woman screening in the competition section, which includes 21 films, Vivian Qu‘s Angels Wear White.

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Annette Bening

When asked to comment on the minimal representation of female directors in the competition at the Jury photo call on Wednesday (August 30), Annette avoided criticizing the festival, saying that she “was thrilled to be asked to be here, so I didn’t count the number of films that were accepted that were directed by women. I didn’t approach it that way.”

“I think that we as women, we have to be very sharp and shrewd and creative ourselves about what we choose to make,” Annette added (via THR). “I know that most people that I know, whether they’re veterans or newcomers, or they’re men or women, most people struggle to get their movies made. And there is a lot of sexism, of course that exists. There’s no question. But I think things are changing. The more that we, as women, can make films that speak to everyone, we can be regarded as filmmakers.”

Annette was joined at the photo call by her fellow Jury members Rebecca Hall, Anna Mouglalis, Jasmine Trinca, David Stratton, Edgar Wright, Greta Scarano and Michael Franco.

FYI: Rebecca is wearing an Altuzarra dress. Anna is wearing a Chanel dress.

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