VENICE, Italy — In the second week of the 82nd Venice Film Festival, stars and awards hopefuls took over the Lido with buzzy premieres, photo calls, and a lifetime achievement salute to screen legend Kim Novak. From The Smashing Machine to The Testament of Ann Lee, fresh titles drew crowds ahead of the festival’s Sept. 6 finish.
Key Takeaways
- Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson led the charge for Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine with a packed red carpet and photo call on Sept. 1.
- Amanda Seyfried appeared with director Mona Fastvold for The Testament of Ann Lee, also debuting Sept. 1.
- Kim Novak received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement during the 82nd edition in Venice.
- Marc Jacobs and Sofia Coppola promoted Marc by Sofia at a Sept. 2 photo call and red carpet.
- Additional premieres included A House of Dynamite, Dead Man’s Wire, Father Mother Sister Brother, and Barrio Triste.
- A visible moment on the carpet: a guest’s “Stop Violence” message written on her hand.
- The festival runs through Sept. 6, positioning key titles for fall awards season.
Verified Facts
Week two opened with a wave of star power on Monday, Sept. 1. Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt joined director Benny Safdie for The Smashing Machine, drawing heavy attention on the red carpet and at a photo call. Co-stars and guests including Maria Borges, Madalina Diana Ghenea, Seth Rogen, Halsey and Avan Jogia were also photographed at the premiere.
On the same day, Amanda Seyfried arrived with director Mona Fastvold to present The Testament of Ann Lee, posing together at a photo call and later on the evening carpet. The festival confirmed that this is the 82nd edition, held on the Lido in Venice, Italy.
Kim Novak was honored with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement during this edition, marking one of the festival’s marquee tributes. The recognition adds a historic note to a week otherwise dominated by splashy premieres and celebrity arrivals.
Tuesday, Sept. 2 featured designer Marc Jacobs and director Sofia Coppola promoting their collaboration Marc by Sofia with both a photo call and red carpet appearance. Rebecca Ferguson, Greta Lee, and Sabrina Dhowre Elba with Idris Elba were among those photographed for A House of Dynamite. Myha’la posed for Dead Man’s Wire, while Stillz and Arca represented Barrio Triste.
Another ensemble moment arrived Sunday, Aug. 31, when Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Anthony Ramos, Idris Elba, and Tracy Letts were pictured together on the red carpet for Father Mother Sister Brother. Throughout the week, photographers also documented a brief activist gesture: Barbara Sirotti showed a hand bearing the words “Stop Violence.”
| Title | Notable Attendees | Date |
|---|---|---|
| The Smashing Machine | Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Benny Safdie | |
| The Testament of Ann Lee | Amanda Seyfried, Mona Fastvold | |
| Marc by Sofia | Marc Jacobs, Sofia Coppola | |
| A House of Dynamite | Rebecca Ferguson, Greta Lee, Idris Elba | |
| Dead Man’s Wire | Myha’la | |
| Father Mother Sister Brother | Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Anthony Ramos, Idris Elba, Tracy Letts | |
| Barrio Triste | Stillz, Arca |
Context & Impact
Venice is widely regarded as a launchpad for fall awards campaigns, and this year’s second week kept that tradition alive with high-profile premieres and international press coverage. The combined presence of Johnson, Blunt, Seyfried, and others offers valuable momentum for distributors eyeing the upcoming awards corridor.
The Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement bestowed on Kim Novak underscores the festival’s dual mission: celebrate cinema’s history while elevating new works. Such tributes often spark renewed interest in a honoree’s filmography, expanding the historical conversation during a week dominated by contemporary titles.
Fashion and celebrity culture remain central to Venice’s global visibility. Red-carpet imagery—from couture choices to candid gestures—can propel films beyond cinephile circles, attracting broader audiences and engagement on social platforms as the festival approaches its Sept. 6 close.
Unconfirmed
- Competition status and release timelines for several titles listed above were not specified in the available materials.
- Distribution details for some films, including international rollout plans, were not provided.
Bottom Line
Week two at Venice delivered star wattage, new titles with awards ambitions, and a milestone tribute to Kim Novak. With the festival running through Sept. 6, the late-week slate and word of mouth will further shape the awards-season conversation.