Venice Film Festival 2021: Maria Sharapova dons chiffon gown while Charlotte Gainsbourg wows in LBD

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Maria Sharapova, 34, beamed when she stepped onto the Venice Film Festival 2021 red carpet on Sunday, slipping into a stunning chiffon gown at the premiere of Lost Illusions.

Elsewhere, Charlotte Gainsbourg looked sensational in a thigh-skimming black gown when she attended the premiere of her upcoming film Sundown.

Stepping out in the chic strapless number, The star, 49, teamed her short frock with knee-high sparkly boots.

Maria’s show-stopping gown boasted high-neck, ruffle detailing and the superstar athlete teamed the piece with a beautiful pair of drop earrings.

The tennis player wore her hair swept into a chic bun and added height to her frame in white heels.

Charlotte wore her brunette hair loose and posed for photographers alongside Tim Roth, who stars alongside her in Michel Franco’s dark comedy.

Also stepping out in Italy on day five of the festival was Jessica Chastain, who was ferried in by water taxi to the star-studded event.

With her flame-hued tresses falling in loose curls past her shoulders, the actress, 44, looked typically stylish in a burgundy jumpsuit and kept the sunshine at bay behind sunglasses.

Kate Hudson, The Crown actress Olivia Williams and fashion mogul Jessica Wang were also seen on day five of the prestigious festival. 

The 2021 Venice Film Festival will take place from 1-11 September, and is considered one of the world’s oldest awards ceremonies and one of the ‘Big Five’ events.

The jury is headed by Parasite frontman Bong Joon Ho, who said he is ‘honoured to be woven into its beautiful cinematic tradition.

‘As president of the jury — and more importantly as a perpetual cinephile — I’m ready to admire and applaud all the great films selected by the festival. I’m filled with genuine hope and excitement.’

The jury is also comprised of director Saverio Costanzo, actress Virginie Efira, star Cynthia Erivo, actress Sarah Gadon, documentarian Alexander Nanau, and director Chloé Zhao.

This year’s festival also invited two Afgan filmmakers, Sahraa Karimi and Sahra Mani, to discuss the Taliban’s takeover of the country, with ‘particular attention to the situation of filmmakers and artists’.

The topic of the panel will be ‘the dramatic situation of Afghan filmmakers and artists in general, the need for the creation of humanitarian corridors and the guarantee of the granting of political refugee status, as well as concern for their future and the need to provide for their accommodation once they arrive in Europe.’

Oscar-winning Italian director Roberto Benigni, who helmed the acclaimed Life is Beautiful, will also be honoured with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.

In a statement he said: ‘My heart is full of joy and gratitude. It is an immense honour to receive such an important recognition of my work from the Venice International Film Festival.’

This year’s festival has also seen the grand return of its star-studded red carpet premieres, after last year’s event was drastically scaled back due to the Covid pandemic.

Last year’s occasion saw a significantly smaller number of guests in attendance, will all red carpet arrivals required to adhere to social distancing, with temperature checks and mask wearing mandatory at the event.

Despite its return, this year’s festival is still adhering to strict Covid guidelines, following a rise in cases in Italy.

Public access to the red carpet is banned, and more than 10 testing stations have been set up.

All attendees must show proof of a negative test or vaccination to enter a screen, and masks are required indoors.