ROME, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Leading international film stars are descending on the northern Italian city of Venice ahead of the opening of the 81st edition of its annual film festival on Wednesday.
The festival, which is to run from Aug. 28 until Sept. 7, will feature a screening of "Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice," a new film directed by Tim Burton, a sequel to Burton's 1988 cult classic fantasy comedy "Beetlejuice." Burton will be on hand for the world premiere of the film along with Michael Keaton, the star of both films, Winona Ryder and Willem Defoe.
In the following days, the northern Italian canal city will see the arrival of actress Sigourney Weaver, who will be given the prestigious Golden Lion for career achievement, as well as other stars.
Other hotly anticipated films this year include "Maria," which stars Angelina Jolie as opera legend Maria Callas; "Joker: Folie a Deux," the crime drama, in which Joaquin Phoenix plays as The Joker and Lady Gaga as his romantic partner; thriller "Baby Girl," which stars Nicole Kidman; and "The Room Next Door," the first English-language film from Oscar-winning Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar.
First held in 1932, the Venice Film Festival is the oldest event of its kind. Along with the festivals in Cannes and Toronto, it is regarded as one of the world's most prestigious festivals focused on motion pictures.
