Venice film festival opens with a call for Human Fraternity

VENICE: The 82nd Venice International Film Festival begins today with a double pre-opening that set the tone for a week where cinema and conscience converge.

Among the highlights was the world premiere of ‘Origin’, a 30-minute documentary by acclaimed French photographer, director and environmentalist, Yann Arthus-Bertrand.

The screening, held at the Sala Darsena, was followed by a thought-provoking dialogue between Arthus-Bertrand; Biennale Architettura curator, Carlo Ratti; and Biennale Cinema artistic director, Alberto Barbera.

‘Origin’ is the extended version of the introductory film for the Biennale Architettura 2025’s ‘Natural Intelligence’ section, offering a visually arresting meditation on humanity’s place within the natural world.

It served as a fitting prologue to the restored screening of Erich von Stroheim’s 1929 silent classic Queen Kelly, reminding audiences of cinema’s enduring power to reflect, challenge, and inspire.

This year’s festival is expected to draw a constellation of global stars, including Emma Stone, George Clooney, Oscar Isaac, Greta Gerwig, Julia Roberts, Guillermo del Toro, Ayo Edebiri, Luca Guadagnino, Andrew Garfield, Dwayne Johnson, Amanda Seyfried, Charli XCX, Emma Corrin, Rebecca Ferguson, Marc Jacobs, Cate Blanchett, Jude Law, and Kevin Spacey, among many others.

Jude Law will appear in Olivier Assayas’ The Wizard of the Kremlin, portraying Russian President Vladimir Putin, while Kevin Spacey is set to attend an event in Venice to present the trailer for his directorial comeback ‘Holiguards Saga: The Portal of Force’.

However, Spacey’s presentation is not part of the official Venice Film Festival lineup, but rather a separate event coinciding with the festival dates.

Their presence underscores Venice’s role not only as a showcase for cinematic excellence but also as a gathering point for cultural influence and global dialogue.

Many influential cinematic personalities are also expected to attend ‘The Gala for Humanity’ hosted by the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity (HCHF) in collaboration with the Better World Fund (BWF), taking place on 30th August.

Timed to coincide with the film festival, HCHF and BWF will gather global leaders, artists, and filmmakers to explore how storytelling and culture can foster empathy, bridge divides, and promote peaceful coexistence.

The initiative underscores the shared mission of HCHF and BWF to harness the arts as a force for unity in an increasingly fragmented world.

The upcoming forum will spotlight the role of cinema as a universal language, capable of transcending borders and ideologies. It will also present the vision of the HCHF, which seeks to build bridges between cultures and faiths through dialogue, partnership, and shared values.

As Venice once again becomes a global stage for art and ideas, the convergence of the festival and the forum offer a timely reminder: in a world of growing complexity, stories, especially those told with heart, remain among the most powerful tools for understanding and unity.