The Venice Film Festival is the oldest and one of the most prestigious in the world. If the festival in Toronto is now the place where filmmakers and film executives close the deals to distribute the films commercially, it is Venice where the deals are opened, in a more relaxed setting. One of the many English-language films in competition at the 64th Venice Film Festival is "I'm Not There," starring Richard Gere...
...and Heath Ledger, born in Australia, now living in Brooklyn.
The Venice Festival is so full of celebrities being photographed that sometimes even the celebrities take pictures, here Brad Pitt taking a picture of his director in "The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford"
Here Richard Gere joins the director Todd Haynes as they arrive for the screening of "I'm Not There".
From left, Richard Gere, director Todd Haynes, actress Charlotte Gainsbourg and actor Heath Ledger of "I'm Not There," which is in competition for the Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion Award.
Charlotte Gainsbourg, born in London, raised in Paris, poses before entering the screening of the movie 'I'm Not There' during the 64th Venice International Film Festival at Venice Lido, 04 September 2007.
U.S. actress Carey Lowell arrives for the screening of the movie " I'm Not There "
"Bangbang wo aishen" ("Help Me Eros") is one of a number of Asian films represented in the festival's final days this year. Here is the cast of the movie...
...and actress Yin Shin, one of the stars of "Bangbang wo aishen"...
and the film's director Lee Kang Sheng...
Director Hartmut Bitomsky of the movie "Staub" (Dust).
Director Penny Woolcock, center, and actors Daniel Percival, left, and Anthony Johnson of the movie "Exodus" pose for the photographers.
Actor Daniel Percival of the movie "Exodus".
Julian Schnabel has directed "Lou Reed's Berlin."
From left, actors Terrence Howard, Diane Kruger, Richard Gere and director Richard Shepard arrive for the screening of the movie "The Hunting Party".
Also attending the screening of "The Hunting Party" is actress Diane Kruger.
Actor Fabrizio Gifuni of "Il Dolce E L'Amaro" poses on day 7 of the festival on September 4, 2007 in Venice, Italy.
Bill Murray was in Venice to promote the movie "The Darjeeling Limited" directed by Wes Anderson. He appears for only about two minutes in the film, which he joked, was "the role I always wanted...I fly to a fascinating place like India for a week, work one day [then shop and sightsee]...then fly to beautiful Venice for a week to spend my time eating and drinking...interrupted by work for just one hour. Not bad, right?"