Naomi Watts, Kate Hudson Arrive in Style at Venice Film Festival

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

Kate Hudson and Naomi Watts seem to be the first stylish American stars to get off their gondolas and arrive on the shores of Venice, Italy, where the 69th annual Venice International Film Festival kicks off on Aug. 29.

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Just kidding -- they did not come by gondola, that would take far too long and attract way too much attention. Both arrived in a sprightly manner by speedboat  -- and one of the enduring photo images of stars at Venice is them arriving off the boat -- "fresh off the boat," as they say. Because they can't be all that dressed up after a flight and a boat ride, and they have to be wearing flats.

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Hudson wore a cropped brown jumpsuit that's shorts, aviators, and a big white leather bag. She stars in the new film, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, that will debut in Venice, also starring Kiefer Sutherland and Liev Schreiber. Schreiber brought significant other Naomi Watts with him, which will fashion things up a bit -- her stylist Anna Bingemann is one of our favorite tastemakers. Watts got off the boat in slim black pants and a white jacket and straw hat -- with charming pink sunglasses. Nice touch. Later, she changed into a short black dress and flats, and the same straw fedora. Affective for Venice's frizzy hair weather.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist tells the tale of a young Pakistani man trying to make his name on Wall Street as he struggles with his identity and a hostage crisis.

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Schreiber also arrived on Tuesday, with longtime partner, Watts, who has been in London filming Diana.

The film festival runs until Sept. 8.