Stars Light Up the Venice Film Festival

From Madonna making waves to Salma Hayek's canal-side stroll, see how the stars dazzled at the annual Italian event
By Alex Apatoff
Updated September 02, 2011 10:00 AM

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LADY MADONNA

Credit: Fame

Looking prim and proper in her high-neck black L'Wren Scott sheath and Yves Saint Lauren platform pumps and sunglasses, the singer-actress-director prepares to board a boat after a photo call for her film W.E.

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GREEN MAN

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Emile Hirsch stays on-trend in neon shades as he makes a stylish arrival to the Venice Film Festival, where the actor is promoting his new black comedy Killer Joe. In it, Hirsch plays a gambler who hires a murderer (played by Matthew McConaughey) to kill his evil mother for her insurance money.

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ALLEY CATS

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Salma Hayek takes a break from the Venice Film Festival parties – she hit the Gucci Award for Women bash and the Palazzo Grassi Art Museum opening – to enjoy a leisurely stroll with husband Francoise-Henri Pinault.

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SIGNING BONUS

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When the fans call, he answers! James Franco chats with admirers at the premiere of Sal, his new biopic about actor Sal Mineo, who starred opposite James Dean in 1955's Rebel Without a Cause. Franco portrayed Dean in a 2001 telefilm.

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STEP TO IT

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Gwyneth Paltrow dazzles in Prada at the Venice premiere of Contagion, the new ensemble drama about a deadly virus that threatens to destroy mankind.

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HAIR'S TO YOU

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Paltrow's Contagion costar, Matt Damon, proves that bald is beautiful, arriving to the film's premiere in black tie – and bare head! – with wife Luciana Barroso.

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RED HOT

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After flaunting her post-baby body earlier in the day, Selma Blair keeps her figure under wraps at the Venice Film Festival premiere of Dark Horse, a brooding romantic comedy from Welcome to the Dollhouse director Todd Solondz.

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KISSY FACE

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Al Pacino says hello to his little friend, Jessica Chastain, who costars with the actor in Wild Salome. Pacino, who also directed the film, was honored at the fest with the prestigious Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory award.

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FAN APPEAL

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She may have a stomach-churning scene in Carnage, but Kate Winslet was the picture of grace at the dark satire's Venice Film Festival premiere

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ON DECK

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A Dangerous Method star Keira Knightley arrives with costar Sarah Gadon at the Palazzo del Cinema for a photo call for their film about the beginnings of psychoanalysis.

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FREUDIAN SLIP

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Knightley's costar, Viggo Mortensen – who pays Sigmund Freud in A Dangerous Method – totes around a puppet version of the famed psychoanalyst while promoting the film. Hmm ... wonder what Freud would say about that?

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NAUTICAL AND NICE

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Playing ship captain one day after serving as boat bartender, George Clooney cruises into the opening day celebration of the Venice Film Festival.

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WAVE RIDER

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Kate Winslet disembarks in style, looking continental-chic in her black mini, slim blazer and House of Lavande bangle.

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SPARKLE & SHINE

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Diane Kruger kills it in a glamorous, glittering Elie Saab gown, champagne heels and Greek-goddess tresses at the premiere of The Ides of March.

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HELLO, YELLOW

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She sure knows how to make an entrance! Marisa Tomei turns heads in a marigold gown accented with beaded details at the premiere of The Ides of March.

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THREE'S A CHARM

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Clooney hits the high seas again with pals Cindy Crawford and her husband Rande Gerber, sailing to the premiere of The Ides of March, which the actor stars in, wrote, and directed.

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MODEL BEHAVIOR

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Proving she still knows how to work her best angles, Crawford greets fans in her jaw-dropping red gown and Chopard jewels on the Ides of March red carpet.

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WELL TRAINED

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The Ides of March star Evan Rachel Wood goes to great lengths in her shirtdress gown and sexy black sandals at the Venice Film Festival's opening night dinner.

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