Che bello! On Friday night, a glittering cast of film and fashion talents elegantly made their way onto the dock of the Gritti Palace from an army of grumbling water taxis, ready to celebrate Cartier’s fifth year as main sponsor of the Venice Film Festival—and the launch of the fine jewelry house’s brand-new Cartier Cinema Club, with guests including Emma Corrin, Kate Mara, Orlando Bloom, and Taylor Russell. All eyes, however, were on Amal Clooney, who arrived in a blazing red draped chiffon gown paired with an eye-popping chrysoprase, coral, and diamond Cartier pendant necklace. Before heading to the bar, she stopped to chat with Vogue about her time at the festival with her husband, George Clooney, who received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement award on Wednesday night at the opening gala. “Only at the Venice Film Festival can I watch amazing movies, but also be in the most romantic place in the world and relive some incredible moments,” she said. “Just this trip, we went back to the place where we got married. We’re staying in the same room at the hotel where we got married, and it’s a place we come back to time and time again—there’s nowhere like it for us.” The night was also an opportunity for many of the biggest stars whose films are premiering this week, as well as some of the jury members to sit back, sip a negroni, catch up with friends, and watch the reflection of the grand Santa Maria della Salute church on the opposite bank shimmering in the black waters of the Grand Canal. That’s why Venice is often referred to as the most glamorous film festival in the world. —Liam Hess
Miu Miu
There are plenty of glitzy parties at Venice Film Festival, but none with quite the same sparkle as Miu Miu’s annual dinner at Ca’ Corner della Regina. Held in honor of the brand’s Women’s Tales initiative—their short film series, which this year featured new entries from Mona Fastvold and Claire Denis—it draws not only the festival’s biggest stars, but its most prestigious filmmakers too. Case in point: This year’s guest list included jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal, who could be spied chatting with The Voice of Hind Rajab director Kaouther Ben Hania, Oscar winner Chloé Zhao, and the legendary documentarian Laura Poitras, whose searing new film on the Minneapolis ICE raids premieres on Monday. Many were drawn to the party by the prospect of having an audience with Mrs. Prada herself: at the beginning of the evening, the designer could be seen in an embroidered tunic dress, sipping Champagne, and catching up with Pamela Anderson; as the evening progressed, she took her place for dinner at a table surrounded by Zhao, Luca Guadagnino, and Orlando Bloom, with Susan Sarandon later pulling up a pew to chat. Taika Waititi was doing the rounds, catching up with Casey Affleck and sharing a spirited conversation with Amanda Seyfried; Emma Corrin and Zoey Deutch were happiest out on the balcony, enjoying the spectacular views down the Grand Canal as gondolas and water taxis zig-zagged across the shimmering black water below. It was enough to have everyone staying and sipping wine at their tables far past midnight—even those with panel talks and screenings the next morning. That’s how you know it’s a good party. —Liam Hess
