Venice Film Festival Attracts Hollywood Stars

Matt Damon is one of several Hollywood A-listers due to grace the red carpet in 2009, as studios appear prepared to foot the substantial bill and come to Venice in order to generate buzz for their pictures as the awards season kicks off.

Hundreds of fans waiting outside the main cinema where Venice Film Festival gala premieres are held each day will be hoping to catch a glimpse of Nicolas Cage, George Clooney, Oliver Stone, Charlize Theron, Eva Mendes, Richard Gere and Sylvester Stallone among others.

The 2009 edition of the Venice Film Festival, the world's oldest film festival looks set to eclipse 2008, which, despite awarding Mickey Rourke's acclaimed comeback "The Wrestler" with the Golden Lion for best film, was seen as lackluster and lacking star power.

"On paper it looks good, and these people will be doing the red carpet giving the festival the glamour I think it needs," said Lee Marshall, film critic for Screen International and a Venice regular.

"That was lacking last year, considered by many to be a limp festival from that point of view. Many media representatives canceled pretty much after the program was announced." Of course, last year this time the entire world finance system was collapsing.

Whether it is still not collapsing in September 2009 is questionable, but surely after what may be considered one of the most difficult psychological years in history the Hollywood stars are glad to be back in Italy for the Venice Film Festival, in the city which gold standard collapsed years ago and may be a good place this year to reflect on Capitalism.

And indeed, in addition to war movies, after almost a decade of unending wars waged byt eh United States of North America, Capitalism is one of the theme's of this year's 2009 Venice Film Festival. Matt Damon Informant and Michael Moore Capitalism both will be screened at the 2009 Venice Film Festival.

As usual Venice promises a global line-up, with Egypt's "The Traveler," featuring Omar Sharif, in competition alongside pictures from China, Austria, Israel, Japan, France, Hong Kong, Germany and Italy.

Not for the first time fashion is in focus, with designer Tom Ford bringing his directorial debut "A Single Man" starring Colin Firth and Julianne Moore.