Sharjah24 – Reuters: Venice Film Festival’s director Alberto Barbera said putting this year's edition together was an easy task with so many movies held back because of the pandemic and stars and filmmakers eager to travel again.

The 78th Venice Film Festival opens on Wednesday (September 1) with Pedro Almodovar's "Parallel Mothers", starring Penelope Cruz and Milena Smit, paving the way for a celebrity-heavy event.

Ridley Scott will screen his medieval epic "The Last Duel" on the penultimate day of the festival, with Hollywood heavyweights Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Jodie Comer expected to join the filmmaker on the Venice red carpet.

Chloe Zhao, the director of last year's Golden Lion winner "Nomadland" will be among the filmmakers deciding the winning films at this year's event, with South Korean "Parasite" director Bong Joon-ho presiding over the jury.

Altogether 21 titles will be vying for the Venice lion trophies this year.

This year's festival runs from September 1 to 11.