Venice Film Festival opens with George Clooney’s playful red-carpet turn and J Balvin’s bold look

George Clooney turned the first red carpet of the 83rd Venice Film Festival into a playful exchange with the photographers. After arriving with his wife, Amal, for the opening ceremony and an honorary Golden Lion, he took one photographer’s camera and used it to photograph the reporters gathered beside the red carpet.

Clooney also signed autographs and took selfies with members of the public before the premiere of Ink, Danny Boyle’s film about media magnate Rupert Murdoch’s purchase of The Sun. He wore a Giorgio Armani tuxedo with a matching bow tie. Venice holds a personal connection for the couple: they married there in 2014.

Amal Clooney drew attention in a custom Haider Ackermann design for Tom Ford, paired with a matching clutch and diamond and emerald jewelry. Other notable arrivals included Laura Dern in a pink midi dress with a voluminous skirt and Claire Foy in a dramatic monochrome look with leather gloves and silver jewelry.

J Balvin chose one of the evening’s most daring outfits, an all-satin Giorgio Armani suit with a geometric print and an oversized, pajama-like cut.

Maggie Gyllenhaal, president of this year’s jury, used her opening speech to criticize the absence of women directors from the competition. “Obviously, there is a systemic problem. I think it is much harder for women to get financing for their films,” she said, asking whether subjects shaped by women’s different experiences are always considered high culture and who decides what is good or valuable.

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Obviously, there is a systemic problem. I think it is much harder for women to get financing for their films. Also, could it be that the subjects women want to make films about, because they have had a different experience of living in the world, are not always considered high culture? Who decides what is good? Who decides what is valuable?