VENICE, Italy (AP) — The Venice Film Festival kicked off with the world premiere of Paolo Sorrentino’s “La Grazia” Wednesday night on the Lido. The opening ceremony of the festival also saw Francis Ford Coppola presenting filmmaker Werner Herzog with a lifetime achievement prize.

The 82nd edition of the glamourous international film festival is playing host to many Hollywood stars, including George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Dwayne Johnson, and famed auteurs, from Guillermo del Toro to Kathryn Bigelow, who all have films debuting over the next 10 days. The conflict in Gaza has also already been an everpresent topic both outside the festival's walls, where protesters gathered, and during the news conferences.

The festival, which takes place on the Lido, chose to open with the newest

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