The 2020 Venice Film Festival Red Carpet Delivered On Drama

There were barely any international celebrities, everyone had a mask and the public was hidden away behind a wall. But my god there were beautiful gowns. Beautiful gowns illuminated by the waning slant of a glorious Mediterranean sun. The red carpet for the 2020 Venice Film Festival delivered the drama, the fantasy and the eleganza we’ve been missing since the coronavirus came along and slapped us all upside the head like Dominique Deveraux receiving an unwanted gift. However, much like Alexis Carrington, glamour is that bitch who recovers quickly and always rises to the occasion! Well, unless we’re talking about last weekend’s VMAs where glamour took one look around and immediately called back the chauffeur (and slapped the shit out him).

According to CNN, celebrities arrived “on the island of Lido in face masks and gowns to a muted reception.” Italy is not fucking around when it comes to safety as the this is “one of the first major cultural events to take place in Europe since the coronavirus pandemic took hold on the continent.” CNN notes that “safety measures include mandatory face masks, temperature checks, physical distancing during screenings and a wall built around the red carpet to keep the public away.” Judging by Tilda Swinton’s face mask above, she’s hoping to avoid being infected by the coronavirus by preemptively infecting herself with a face-hugging alien parasite. Folks, don’t try this at home. Inviting an alien into your body is really only something Tilda can pull off. OK, and maybe this guy.

This is Principe Maurice who the internet tells me is an “Italian aristocrat” and “emotional DJ.” I know I promised you beautiful gowns but Principe didn’t spend his 20s mastering piano baroque keyboards and theatrical circus performance to get upstaged by some actress in a frock. Make that actor. Festival Jury head Cate Blanchett says she prefers to refer to herself as an actor and has advocated for a move towards gender-neutral prizes. According to The Guardian, the Berlin Film Festival has made the controversial decision to give a single prize for acting staring next year. Here’s Cate arriving in the same dress she wore to the 2015 London premiere of Carole.

Somebody give this elegant cuttlefish the award for Best Actor already! Other than Cate and Tilda, the only other “big” name on the carpet was Matt Dillon. And while he’s looking particularly snacktastic, I’ve relegated him in the gallery below so that we may rapturously gasp at this stunning vision here. It’s mono-named Italian model/singer Elodie wearing silver Versace and carrying a bespoke face mask.

I tell you I would pay many Euros to have this woman slap my face hard enough to send my mask flying into the Grand Canal. Get into the glamorous gowns (and a few casual looks from the arrival by boat) presented in the gallery below.

Pics: Wenn.com