The Venice Film Festival kicks off Wednesday, rolling out the red carpet for Julia Roberts and George Clooney in a flurry of worldwide premieres at the glitzy celebration on the sandy Lido.

A cavalcade of A-listers -- from Jude Law to Emma Stone -- will arrive by water taxi for the festival opening, drawing hundreds of fans hoping to glimpse the stars.

Among acclaimed directors at the festival's 82nd edition are Werner Herzog, Jim Jarmusch, Kathryn Bigelow, Gus Van Sant and Park Chan-wook, who returns to the festival after 20 years.

Venice, a highlight of the international film circuit, will serve up big budget films -- such as Benny Safdie's "The Smashing Machine" starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as an ageing wrestler -- and smaller independent works.

Despite the glamorous backdrop, debate has already begun over the Gaza war, with a protest planned Saturday on the Lido.

A collective of Italian film professionals, Venice4Palestine, called Sunday for the festival to take a "clear stance" and support artist actions against Israel's tactics in the war set off by the 2023 Hamas attacks.

"In Venice, all the spotlight will be on the world of cinema,........

© International Business Times