The 2025 Venice Film Festival has been just as buzzy, stylish, gossip-filled, and full of standing ovations as past editions in the floating city. There were highly anticipated films and early awards contenders, from Yorgos Lanthimos’s Bugonia to Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice. But it also served as a preview of fashion month, with designers showcasing looks ahead of their official collections. Louise Trotter’s Bottega Veneta designs appeared on stars like Jacob Elordi and Vicky Krieps, while onlookers got a first look at Dario Vitale’s vision for Versace on Julia Roberts and Amanda Seyfried. Sofia Coppola’s much-awaited documentary on Marc Jacobs also premiered, perfectly blending fashion and film.
This year’s guest list spanned the industry: newcomers like Ayo Edebiri and Callum Turner made their Venice debuts, while festival regulars like a red-lipped, YSL-clad Chloë Sevigny, Charlotte Rampling, and Willem Dafoe also graced the Lido. Photographer Francesc Planes was on site—and on the canals—capturing it all for Vogue.
“The festival isn’t as huge as Cannes, but that’s what makes it more interesting and special,” says Planes, who regularly shoots stars at both events. “The location is super charming. You travel in small private boats and feel like a star. You attend exclusive parties in remote spots, away from the crowds—it’s like being in a movie.”
“What fascinates me about festivals like Venice or Cannes is how many people attend who have nothing to do with cinema,” Planes adds. “They come to show off, flaunt wealth, socialize, or post on social media.”
Planes first photographed Elordi arriving at the historic Gritti Palace for the Frankenstein premiere. The lively actor noticed Planes’s experimental Ray-Ban Meta Glasses and joked, “Those glasses are the devil,” though he happily posed for portraits before the screening.
Other highlights included Rampling, there for Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother—“She was surprised I wanted her portrait”—and Dafoe, a festival fixture. “I’m used to seeing him at Cannes and Venice,” says Planes. “He’s become a familiar face. We chatted on the steps of the Hotel Excelsior, and he posed.” Also captured were Christoph Waltz from Frankenstein, Chloë Sevigny from After the Hunt, and Michèle Lamy, who was mostly in Venice to relax. “I ran into her on the promenade in flip-flops,” Planes recalls. “It was nice to see her outside Paris Fashion Week. I spotted her at several films over the days.”
Beyond celebrities, Planes finds inspiration in Venice’s elegant older women—reminiscent of Milan’s sciura—who dress extravagantly with bold hats and makeup. “They come to the festival to show off and have fun. I’m not sure how much they care about cinema, but they’re there every year, serving looks,” he says. “Some I see at festival after festival, in country after country.” One woman wore an enormous sculptural fascinator with fresh flowers. “If she’s there to watch a movie,” Planes notes, “I feel sorry for whoever sits behind her.”
Outside the main festival areas, crowds of fans gathered, phones in hand, cheering at the sight of stars.“Suddenly you see the true nature of people,” says Planes. “You see them running, their faces full of joy and passion. And almost always, they’re holding a camera, trying to capture a photo with a celebrity. That struggle to get the picture, contrasted with the celebrity’s own anxiety, turns the whole scene into a spectacle—like something out of a movie.”
Planes photographed crowds of fans pressed against the premiere barriers, all eager to get autographs—a tradition that now feels almost vintage. “There’s one guy I first saw three years ago in Cannes who fascinates me,” Planes says. “He spends the whole festival running around asking for photos and autographs. That’s all he does. Then there’s another who goes to every festival wearing a different stuffed animal on his head. He’s always behind the fence—I don’t even think he watches the films.”
Inside the screening rooms, Planes witnessed some of the famously long standing ovations, along with audiences reacting to award-worthy premieres—and a few more controversial films. About one movie he won’t name, he recalls: “One woman started booing and yelling that the film was terrible. I’d never seen that before. I won’t say which movie it was… but yeah, it was a bit bad! Still, booing the director and cast at a premiere—that’s wild.”
Other small moments from Venice that he captured on film: oversized earrings, opera gloves holding iPhones, and glossy lips; the constantly spinning door of the glamorous Hotel Excelsior, covered in fingerprints; pigeon-filled Piazza San Marco—where his idea to photograph Marc Jacobs among the birds fell through—and beachgoers and passersby puzzled by all the excitement.
“One morning, with nothing else to do, I went for a walk on the sand wearing the black suit jacket I planned to wear later on the red carpet,” Planes says. “People laughed when they saw me strolling on the beach dressed like that in the heat. It was fun to shift from photographing celebrities to capturing people just relaxing on the sand, completely unaware of who was nearby.”
Below, scenes from the 2025 Venice Film Festival, photographed by Francesc Planes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a helpful and clear FAQ about capturing moments with the stars at the 2025 Venice Film Festival
General Beginner Questions
Q Who are Jacob Chlo Ayo and Sofia
A They are highly acclaimed actors and filmmakers who are expected to attend the 2025 Venice Film Festival likely with new films in competition
Q What exactly is capturing a moment with a star at a festival
A It means getting a photo a short video or an autograph of them on the red carpet at a press conference or in a casual setting around Venice Its about preserving a memory of seeing them in person
Q Is it even possible for a regular fan to get near them
A Yes but it requires planning The best public opportunities are during red carpet premieres and when stars are moving between venues
Q Whats the best way to get a good photo
A Arrive early to secure a spot at the front of the public viewing area Use a smartphone with a good zoom or a camera Be ready as moments happen very quickly
Practical Tips HowTo
Q Where in Venice does the festival take place
A The main hub is the Lido di Venezia specifically the historic Palazzo del Cinema on the Lungomare Marconi waterfront Stars also stay in hotels in central Venice and travel by boat
Q When should I show up to see a specific stars arrival
A For a major premiere arrive at least 23 hours early The stars arrival times are not publicized so patience is key
Q What should I absolutely NOT do when trying to get a moment
A Do not yell aggressively push or try to bypass security barriers Respect their personal space and remember they are there for work Being polite and respectful is the best way to get a positive reaction
Q Are there any rules about photography
A Professional cameras with large lenses are often restricted to accredited press For the public smartphones and small pointandshoot cameras are usually fine Always follow the instructions of security personnel
Advanced Strategic Questions