The Venice International Film Festival lit up the Lido from August 27 to September 6, 2025, casting its spell with cinema, style, and timeless luxury. Under soft lights and shutter clicks, Venice felt like a dream: gondola glides at midnight, couture gowns drifting past, and the sea applauding each premiere.
Among the festival’s standout nights was August 31, when amfAR’s Venice Gala turned the historic Arsenale into a breathtaking stage of giving and glamour. Hosted by Colman Domingo, in a striking green Valentino jacket, and fronted by Jude Law, the evening raised an inspiring $3.4 million for HIV/AIDS research.
Among the notable faces at this year’s festival were Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Amanda Seyfried, Jacob Elordi, and Mia Goth. Their appearances added to the mix of actors, artists, and industry figures that continue to make Venice as much a meeting point for international stars as it is for filmmakers.
Art collided with charity when artist-filmmaker Julian Schnabel offered to paint portraits of the top bidders,then surprised the crowd by offering two portraits instead of one each fetching about $586,000, one of which went to Halsey.
On the cinematic front, the festival’s biggest triumph came when Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother won the coveted Golden Lion. The intimate triptych about family and memory struck a chord with both critics and audiences, marking one of the director’s most celebrated achievements in years and giving Venice its defining film of 2025.
In Venice, film and luxury aren’t separate. This year proved that the festival is not just a showcase, it’s a beautifully lived moment, unforgettable in gold, gondolas, and generosity.
