Opening speech of President of the Jury, Catherine Elise Blanchett., AC praising the 77th annual Venice International Film Festival organised by the La Biennale di Venezia and directed by Alberto Barbera.
People arrived at the venue on the Venice Lido in Italy wearing their facemasks, going through temperature checks and observing the rules and guidelines for social distancing. The film festival started from September 4 and will end on September 12, 2020.
It is the first international film festival to be held with physical presence of the organisers and participants in the atmosphere of the COVID-19 pandemic.