The Venice Film Festival is the oldest in the world, and remains one of the most prestigious. Naturally, some of the biggest moments in both film and fashion have occurred during its reign.
Founded in 1932, it was intended to reinstate Italy as a global cinematic leader after World War I saw the country overtaken by the United States from a production and output perspective. Since then, a purpose-built event space has been created (the Palazzo del Cinema) and films that have gone on to become enduring classics have premiered, such as Frankenstein and It Happened One Night.
The festival has also seen some major cultural moments occur both on its red carpet from a fashion perspective, and within the festival. Some of these moments have been good, some more controversial. Either way, they’ll be remembered. Below, find the most significant in the Venice Film Festival’s 79 year history.
1. The Mussolini Awards, 1930s
Because fascist dictator Benito Mussolini was in power during the 30s and early 40s, the highest award for Best Italian and Best Foreign Film during this period was the Copa Mussolini, or Mussolini Cup. In general there was a lot of controversy during the period prior to WWII – Nazi propaganda movie Heimkehr won an award, and in 1940 the festival was renamed the Italian-German Film Festival.
The Copa Mussolini was removed in 1943 when Mussolini was removed from office, and by the time the festival returned post-war in 1946, it had been renamed the Venice Film Festival.
2. Diana Dors Wears A Mink Bikini, 1955
Fashion has always gone hand-in-hand with the Venice Film Festival, and there have been some iconic sartorial moments over the years. One such moment has to be British actress Diana Dors making waves in a mink bikini. Was this the origination of a “break the internet” moment, before the internet existed? Maybe.
3. Brigitte Bardot & The Paparazzi, 1958
Celebrities making statements has been an event given since the ’50s. Here, Brigitte Bardot – in the middle of her rise to fame – had a festival-stealing moment as she posed in the grass for a mass of paparazzi. One of the biggest movie stars of her time, she was seen as a major sex symbol and was known for roles that played into her sexuality. The same year this photo was taken, Bardot starred in In Case Of Adversity, one of the most popular films of the year in France.
4. Director Lars von Trier’s Controversial Appearance, 2014
He may be a critical darling of the film festival scene, but Danish director Lars von Trier is also one of the most controversial figures in the industry. After making jokes about how he “sympathises” with Hitler, saying “I understand Hitler, but I think he did some wrong things, yes absolutely, but I can see him sitting in his bunker… I think I understand the man” at Cannes Film Festival in 2011, von Trier refused to do interviews for years, but made an ‘appearance’ at the Venice Film Festival in 2014 via video.
Again, he courted controversy – when asked what he’d learned about female sexuality during the making of Nymphomaniac, he responded “Have I learned anything about women? No. I know everything about women.”
5. Kate Hudson Makes Chanel Maternity Wear, 2003
Easily one of the most memorable fashion moments from Venice Film Festival was Kate Hudson‘s 2003 Chanel look. She was doing a red carpet appearance for her role in Le Divorce, and pregnant with her first child, Ryder. Instead of concealing the bump, Hudson chose to show it off, donning a two-piece Chanel set that will go down in history.
6. Roman Polanski’s Nomination, 2019
At the height of the #MeToo reckoning, the decision to include Roman Polanski’s film An Officer And A Spy was met with plenty of outrage, even among the Venice Film Festival jury itself. Polanski had just been accused of historical sexual assault which also brought attention back to his 1978 rape conviction of a then 13-year-old girl. Defending his decision, festival director at the time Alberto Barbera said “The history of art is full of artists who committed crimes but we have continued to admire their works of art and the same is true of Polanski. He is, in my opinion, one of the last masters in European cinema. We cannot wait 200 years to decide whether his films are great or easily forgotten, an aesthetic judgment needs to be passed at once.”
7. Zendaya In Wet-Look Balmain, 2021
Zendaya cemented herself as one of Gen Z’s biggest fashion stars during the Dune press tour, and her Balmain gown (teamed with a 93-carat emerald and gold Bulgari necklace) easily topped the best dressed list for the 2021 Venice Film Festival.
The nude leather dress clung to the actress like she’d stepped out of the ocean, with her long-time stylist Law Roach taking inspiration from 19th century sculptures. Balmain used a model of Zendaya’s bust to create the look.
8. A Serious Lack Of Female Directors, 2019
2019’s Venice Film Festival was fraught with more controversy when it was pointed out that of the 21 films in the competition that year, only two were directed by women.
It marked a turning point for the festival – 2020’s lineup saw 44 per cent of films helmed by female directors, with Chloe Zhao winning the Golden Lion for Nomadland, becoming one of only five women who have won the prestigious award since the festival’s inception.
However, this year sees just 23 per cent of competition titles directed by women, proving the festival still has a way to go when it comes to representation.
9. Lady Gaga In Valentino, 2018
It was one of the most highly anticipated films of the year, so naturally Lady Gaga chose a jaw-dropping gown to walk the Venice Film Festival red carpet for A Star Is Born.
The pink, feathered Valentino couture piece was originally worn by Kaia Gerber on the runway in July that year, and while its appearance stole the red carpet, it was Gaga and co-star Bradley Cooper’s electric chemistry that had everyone talking. They ended up brushing off fling rumours for the entirety of their press tour for the film.
The 2022 Venice Film Festival begins 31 August.
