Allen's latest a hit at Venice fest debut
Allen charms Venice
Aug 28, 2003
VENICE, Italy -- The 60th Venice International Film Festival kicked off Wednesday with a screening of Woody Allen's "Anything Else" after a well-attended but lengthy opening ceremony.
Allen arrived amid popping flash bulbs and received a warm reception at the black-tie opening-night gala.
Although he was late, the filmmaker-comedian took the time to walk up the blue -- not red -- carpeted catwalk, braving a new-wave walkway structure. The installation is meant to encourage "movement and grace" from star attendees, according to fest organizers.
Joining Allen were cast members Christina Ricci and Jason Biggs and the director's wife, Soon-Yi. Allen's appearance marks the first time he has attended the Venice event, though many of his films have been screened on the Lido.
The diminutive filmmaker said that having attended Cannes last year with his previous film, "Hollywood Ending," he was very excited to be at Venice with his new offering.
"(Cannes and Venice) are the two most glamorous festivals and the ones I always read about," Allen said to a packed auditorium before the screening of "Anything Else." He said he had been a great admirer of Italian cinema over the years and that he had "shamelessly" lifted scenes and techniques from several great Italian directors, including Fellini, for his own movies.
But Allen said he would not be breaking the habit of a lifetime by staying to watch his completed movie. "I never watch my own films," he sighed. "But I will come to the party later. I have no objection to parties."
Allen said he hoped the gathered audience enjoyed the movie and joked that if they didn't, he would "try again next year and make a better movie."
The star-turn appearance of Allen and his cast on the carpet was preceded by a contingent from Fox Searchlight, headed by filmmaking partners James Ivory and Ismail Merchant, who are on the Lido to screen "Le Divorce," starring Kate Hudson, Naomi Watts and Glenn Close, though none of the stars arrived in time for the opening jamboree.
The Miramax Films team -- regulars at the Venice festival -- arrived in town with the news that Robert Rodriguez and Salma Hayek are to present "Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over" in a special screening. The duo waltzed up the carpet to a warm reception Wednesday night and will be on hand for today's showing of the Dimension Films title to the "families of Venice" to help celebrate the festival's 60th birthday. Miramax also said Sylvester Stallone was arriving to add to the celebrations later this week. Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein also is expected in town later during the festival.
Rodriguez, sporting a cowboy hat for the opening gala, also is here to support the screening of his Sony/Dimension release "Once Upon a Time in Mexico," which stars Hayek.
After only a handful of high-profile arrivals at the opening gala, attendees were presented with a short montage of footage from the festival's 59 previous incarnations. The montage was created by Antonello Sarno and produced by Italy's Medusa Films and the Italian Film Institute.
Festival director Moritz de Hadeln introduced montages of the work of this year's career Golden Lion recipients, actor Omar Sharif and producer Dino De Laurentiis. The only political point during the evening came when de Hadeln took the opportunity to say that the award to Sharif was an "appropriate award in these times for someone from the Arab world, as a sign of peace." De Laurentiis and Sharif are expected to jet into the Lido during the weekend to accept their awards.
De Hadeln introduced the presidents of this year's three juries, which brought veteran Italian director Mario Monicelli, president of the event's main competition, to the stage.
Monicelli jested that he had been a young man at the inaugural festival in 1935, before going on to say that he had won a Golden Lion for the De Laurentiis-produced movie "The Big War" in 1960. He introduced his fellow jury members to the audience before leaving the stage.
But after three juries and more than a dozen introductions in French, Italian and English, Allen's appearance onstage aroused the audience, which gave him a standing ovation.
Allen arrived amid popping flash bulbs and received a warm reception at the black-tie opening-night gala.
Although he was late, the filmmaker-comedian took the time to walk up the blue -- not red -- carpeted catwalk, braving a new-wave walkway structure. The installation is meant to encourage "movement and grace" from star attendees, according to fest organizers.
Joining Allen were cast members Christina Ricci and Jason Biggs and the director's wife, Soon-Yi. Allen's appearance marks the first time he has attended the Venice event, though many of his films have been screened on the Lido.
The diminutive filmmaker said that having attended Cannes last year with his previous film, "Hollywood Ending," he was very excited to be at Venice with his new offering.
"(Cannes and Venice) are the two most glamorous festivals and the ones I always read about," Allen said to a packed auditorium before the screening of "Anything Else." He said he had been a great admirer of Italian cinema over the years and that he had "shamelessly" lifted scenes and techniques from several great Italian directors, including Fellini, for his own movies.
But Allen said he would not be breaking the habit of a lifetime by staying to watch his completed movie. "I never watch my own films," he sighed. "But I will come to the party later. I have no objection to parties."
Allen said he hoped the gathered audience enjoyed the movie and joked that if they didn't, he would "try again next year and make a better movie."
The star-turn appearance of Allen and his cast on the carpet was preceded by a contingent from Fox Searchlight, headed by filmmaking partners James Ivory and Ismail Merchant, who are on the Lido to screen "Le Divorce," starring Kate Hudson, Naomi Watts and Glenn Close, though none of the stars arrived in time for the opening jamboree.
The Miramax Films team -- regulars at the Venice festival -- arrived in town with the news that Robert Rodriguez and Salma Hayek are to present "Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over" in a special screening. The duo waltzed up the carpet to a warm reception Wednesday night and will be on hand for today's showing of the Dimension Films title to the "families of Venice" to help celebrate the festival's 60th birthday. Miramax also said Sylvester Stallone was arriving to add to the celebrations later this week. Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein also is expected in town later during the festival.
Rodriguez, sporting a cowboy hat for the opening gala, also is here to support the screening of his Sony/Dimension release "Once Upon a Time in Mexico," which stars Hayek.
After only a handful of high-profile arrivals at the opening gala, attendees were presented with a short montage of footage from the festival's 59 previous incarnations. The montage was created by Antonello Sarno and produced by Italy's Medusa Films and the Italian Film Institute.
Festival director Moritz de Hadeln introduced montages of the work of this year's career Golden Lion recipients, actor Omar Sharif and producer Dino De Laurentiis. The only political point during the evening came when de Hadeln took the opportunity to say that the award to Sharif was an "appropriate award in these times for someone from the Arab world, as a sign of peace." De Laurentiis and Sharif are expected to jet into the Lido during the weekend to accept their awards.
De Hadeln introduced the presidents of this year's three juries, which brought veteran Italian director Mario Monicelli, president of the event's main competition, to the stage.
Monicelli jested that he had been a young man at the inaugural festival in 1935, before going on to say that he had won a Golden Lion for the De Laurentiis-produced movie "The Big War" in 1960. He introduced his fellow jury members to the audience before leaving the stage.
But after three juries and more than a dozen introductions in French, Italian and English, Allen's appearance onstage aroused the audience, which gave him a standing ovation.
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