Venice reclaims spotlight as 1st COVID-era film fest opens
Medical professionals arrive ahead of the start of the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. Italy was among the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, and the festival will serve as a celebration of its re-opening and a sign that the film world, largely on pause since March, is coming back as well. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Medical professionals arrive ahead of the start of the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. Italy was among the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, and the festival will serve as a celebration of its re-opening and a sign that the film world, largely on pause since March, is coming back as well. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Sep. 01, 2020 09:05 AM EDT
Festival workers receive their uniforms for the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival at the Venice Lido, Italy, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. The festival will take place from Sept. 2 through Sept. 12 in a more restrained format due the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

Festival workers receive their uniforms for the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival at the Venice Lido, Italy, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. The festival will take place from Sept. 2 through Sept. 12 in a more restrained format due the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

Aug. 31, 2020 12:23 PM EDT
File - Singer and actress Lady Gaga, right, and actor Bradley Cooper arrive at the Venice Film Festival for the photo call of the film 'A Star Is Born'. The 77th Venice Film Festival will kick off on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, but this year's edition will be unlike any others. Coronavirus restrictions will mean fewer Hollywood stars, no crowds interacting with actors and other virus safeguards will be deployed. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

File - Singer and actress Lady Gaga, right, and actor Bradley Cooper arrive at the Venice Film Festival for the photo call of the film 'A Star Is Born'. The 77th Venice Film Festival will kick off on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, but this year's edition will be unlike any others. Coronavirus restrictions will mean fewer Hollywood stars, no crowds interacting with actors and other virus safeguards will be deployed. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

Aug. 29, 2020 07:01 PM EDT
A festival attendee has their temperature checked ahead of the start of the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. Italy was among the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, and the festival will serve as a celebration of its re-opening and a sign that the film world, largely on pause since March, is coming back as well. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

A festival attendee has their temperature checked ahead of the start of the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. Italy was among the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, and the festival will serve as a celebration of its re-opening and a sign that the film world, largely on pause since March, is coming back as well. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Sep. 01, 2020 09:05 AM EDT
Workers mount lights on the red carpet of the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival at the Venice Lido, Italy, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

Workers mount lights on the red carpet of the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival at the Venice Lido, Italy, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

Aug. 31, 2020 11:45 AM EDT
Festival workers receive their uniforms for the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival at the Venice Lido, Italy, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. The festival will take place from Sept. 2 through Sept. 12 in a more restrained format due the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

Festival workers receive their uniforms for the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival at the Venice Lido, Italy, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. The festival will take place from Sept. 2 through Sept. 12 in a more restrained format due the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

Aug. 31, 2020 12:19 PM EDT
Festival workers leave a meeting where they were briefed about procedures for the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival at the Venice Lido, Italy, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. The festival will take place from Sept. 2 through Sept. 12 in a more restrained format due the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

Festival workers leave a meeting where they were briefed about procedures for the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival at the Venice Lido, Italy, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. The festival will take place from Sept. 2 through Sept. 12 in a more restrained format due the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

Aug. 31, 2020 12:04 PM EDT
Police officers arrive ahead of the start of the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. Italy was among the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, and the festival will serve as a celebration of its re-opening and a sign that the film world, largely on pause since March, is coming back as well. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Police officers arrive ahead of the start of the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. Italy was among the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, and the festival will serve as a celebration of its re-opening and a sign that the film world, largely on pause since March, is coming back as well. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Sep. 01, 2020 09:04 AM EDT
Festival attendees cycle in front of the main cinema ahead of the start of the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. Italy was among the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, and the festival will serve as a celebration of its re-opening and a sign that the film world, largely on pause since March, is coming back as well. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Festival attendees cycle in front of the main cinema ahead of the start of the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. Italy was among the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, and the festival will serve as a celebration of its re-opening and a sign that the film world, largely on pause since March, is coming back as well. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Sep. 01, 2020 09:05 AM EDT
Festival workers receive their uniforms for the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival at the Venice Lido, Italy, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. The festival will take place from Sept. 2 through Sept. 12 in a more restrained format due the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

Festival workers receive their uniforms for the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival at the Venice Lido, Italy, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. The festival will take place from Sept. 2 through Sept. 12 in a more restrained format due the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

Aug. 31, 2020 12:26 PM EDT
Festival workers receive their uniforms for the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival at the Venice Lido, Italy, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. The festival will take place from Sept. 2 through Sept. 12 in a more restrained format due the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

Festival workers receive their uniforms for the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival at the Venice Lido, Italy, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. The festival will take place from Sept. 2 through Sept. 12 in a more restrained format due the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

Aug. 31, 2020 12:15 PM EDT
File - Actors Ruth Negga, from left, Brad Pitt, Liv Tyler and director James Gray arrive for the photo call of 'Ad Astra' at the Venice Film Festival. The 77th Venice Film Festival will kick off on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, but this year's edition will be unlike any others. Coronavirus restrictions will mean fewer Hollywood stars, no crowds interacting with actors and other virus safeguards will be deployed. (AP Photo/Dejan Jankovic, File)

File - Actors Ruth Negga, from left, Brad Pitt, Liv Tyler and director James Gray arrive for the photo call of 'Ad Astra' at the Venice Film Festival. The 77th Venice Film Festival will kick off on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, but this year's edition will be unlike any others. Coronavirus restrictions will mean fewer Hollywood stars, no crowds interacting with actors and other virus safeguards will be deployed. (AP Photo/Dejan Jankovic, File)

Aug. 29, 2020 07:01 PM EDT
File - Actor George Clooney arrives in Venice, Italy on a taxi boat for the Venice Film Festival. The 77th Venice Film Festival will kick off on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, but this year's edition will be unlike any others. Coronavirus restrictions will mean fewer Hollywood stars, no crowds interacting with actors and other virus safeguards will be deployed. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan, File)

File - Actor George Clooney arrives in Venice, Italy on a taxi boat for the Venice Film Festival. The 77th Venice Film Festival will kick off on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, but this year's edition will be unlike any others. Coronavirus restrictions will mean fewer Hollywood stars, no crowds interacting with actors and other virus safeguards will be deployed. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan, File)

Aug. 29, 2020 07:01 PM EDT