Venice Film Festival (September 2-12): celebrities, toasts and signature dishes

The great international cinema, but also that parallel universe of iconic hotels, cocktails, private dinners, toasts, and signature dishes that has always accompanied the red carpet: from September 2nd to 12th, the Lido will once again become the center of the world with the Venice International Film Festival No. 83, directed by Alberto Barbera. Among the expected celebrities, there are George Clooney, Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Robert Pattinson, Rooney Mara, Dakota Johnson, Alicia Vikander, Susan Sarandon, Luca Marinelli, and Valeria Golino. As every year, this constellation of stars is set to transform Venice into a privileged observatory of contemporary luxury rituals: where people stay, where they dine, and, naturally, what they drink. For the third consecutive year, Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG will serve as the Biennale Cinema “Official Sparkling Wine” strengthening a partnership which turns the Unesco-listed hills into a permanent setting for the festival. But it is not the only one. Montelvini will accompany the aperitifs at La Terrazza by Atlas Concorde at the Hotel Excelsior, while Campari will bring its Lounge on the Biennale Terrace to life with signature cocktails and themed parties. Consorzio Tutela Lugana DOC will make its debut in Venice as the official wine of Isola Edipo, the Lido most dynamic cultural venue, hosting screenings, masterclasses, and leading figures from the film world. Meanwhile, Tino Vettorello, official chef of the Festival food areas since 2010, will curate the menus and events at the Palazzo del Casinò and the Biennale Terrace, which will welcome film personalities and institutional guests. Among the special dishes will be the “Clooney Turbot” dedicated to one of contemporary cinema icons, who will receive this year prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Festival.
For 11 days, Venice will be much more than the capital of cinema. From the Lido to the Grand Canal, from terrace cocktails to hidden restaurants, from official toasts to the most exclusive private dinners, food and wine will accompany every moment of the Festival, highlighting a connection much deeper than one might imagine. The toast is part of the scenery, the cocktail is a ritual of social connection, and a private dinner can become one of the most exclusive appointments of the entire week. Wine itself can become a lifestyle object to be photographed and shared. This is the case of the limited-edition bottle created by Consorzio di tutela Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Docg, the latest chapter in a trilogy that this year is titled “Sogno Cinematografico” - “Cinematic Dream”, an illustration which places the region and its wine at center stage. This year, the Consortium participation will also feature Greg Goya, renowned representative of “fast art”, who will create a highly interactive installation: a globe composed of a mosaic of glass fragments with gold-edged borders, inspired by Murano glassmaking and the territory where these sparkling wines are produced. Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG will also accompany both the opening and closing dinners and will be present in all spaces managed by chef Tino Vettorello, including the Palazzo del Cinema, the restaurant at the Palazzo del Casinò, and the Biennale Terrace. Furthermore, it will serve as the common thread of an exclusive itinerary aboard the “Edipo Re”, a historic Venetian vessel which once hosted Pier Paolo Pasolini and Maria Callas.
At the same time, Montelvini will bring five labels to the Lido, including a 0% Alcohol Free option for those who prefer to stay sharp between one red carpet and the next. The iconic Campari Lounge will also return, set up on the Biennale Terrace in front of the Palazzo del Casinò, serving as a meeting place and social hub throughout the festival.
Lugana DOC, produced in the hills surrounding Lake Garda, will be the reference wine at Isola Edipo, one of the Lido main gathering places for film industry professionals, artists, journalists, sector experts, and the public. The venue will host screenings, masterclasses, talks, concerts, performances, exhibitions, and social events. Isola Edipo choice is no coincidence: Lugana DOC fits naturally into an ecosystem that promotes sustainability, inclusion, and strong ties with local communities. With its freshness and distinctive identity, this white wine from Lake Garda integrates seamlessly into the dynamic and convivial atmosphere of Isola Edipo, becoming an integral part of the festival experience. The connection between Lugana and Venice unfolds symbolically along the water: from Lake Garda to the Venetian Lagoon, two landscapes with strong identities, capable of generating culture, beauty, and human connection.
Tino Vettorello, the Festival official chef for all food areas since 2010, curates the menus and events at the Palazzo del Casinò and the Biennale Terrace (facing the red carpet), which will host leading figures from the film industry, institutional representatives, and guests of partner companies. “Venezia83”, “Laguna”, and “Cavallino” are the three tasting menus offered for dinner at the Biennale Terrace, each built around the themes of cinema, water, and the vegetable gardens of the Venetian coastline. Among the featured dishes, there is the “Clooney Turbot”, one of several creations that the chef has dedicated to film stars. This year, it takes on particular significance in light of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement awarded by La Biennale di Venezia to George Clooney. “The “Clooney Turbot” has been part of my menus for a long time - explains chef Vettorello - this year, the dedication coincides with an important moment in the actor career and in his relationship with Venice. It is a coincidence that makes the dish feel even more connected to this edition, and I have a few surprises in store for Clooney, whom I will be delighted to welcome once again”.
Hotels, meanwhile, host the Festival’s more private side. The Hotel Excelsior on the Lido, the historic epicenter of Festival life, remains an essential stop for delegations and celebrities. Across the lagoon, properties such as the Cipriani, the Gritti Palace, the Aman, and the newly renovated Danieli are among the addresses most closely associated with the international presence during the Festival. According to the American press, the Cipriani is also home to one of George Clooney favorite bars, a detail that perfectly captures the relationship between the stars and Venice, a city where the public spectacle of the red carpet coexists with a network of far more discreet venues.
Then there are the personal tastes of the celebrities, where food meets gossip. George Clooney, a long-time admirer and frequent visitor to Italy, has for years been associated with an informal and convivial Mediterranean lifestyle, far removed from the idea of dieting as deprivation. Penélope Cruz has often spoken about her connection to Spanish cuisine and her enjoyment of dining, while Robert Pattinson belongs to a generation of stars for whom food is often part of a broader pop-cultural narrative, encompassing everyday habits, comfort foods, and rituals frequently discussed in the media.
Between a red carpet appearance and a glass of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG, the Venice Film Festival once again confirms its dual identity: on the one hand, the art of cinema; on the other, hand a showcase of Italian food and wine excellence that, edition after edition, continually finds new ways to tell its story to the world.