GALLERY >> Fashion at Venice, starting with Kate Hudson in Versace

All aboard for a fortnight of film glamour at the Venice Film Festival! The 69th edition of the world's oldest film festival is now underway, and already the stars have been showing up in the Venetian manner - on the water.

Kate Hudson (wearing Atelier Versace on the red carpet, above) and Naomi Watts are in town for the opening film, Mira Nair's 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist', where Kate and Naomi's husband Liev Schreiber have starring roles.

They were spotted having pre-festival cocktails with the world's most glam ethically friendly couple, Colin and Livia Firth. And it was difficult for anyone to keep their eyes off ' From Paris With Love' actress Kasia Smutniak, looking like a sea goddess dressed in Valentino.
 
Over the next ten days Hollywood hottest stars including Javier Bardem, Joaquin Phoenix, Salma Hayek and Zac Efron will be on the red carpet for sixty world premieres.

'The Reluctant Fundamentalist', which stars British 'Four Lions' actor Riz Amhed, has already got rave reviews after its first screening. Equally anticipated are 'Tree of Life' director Terrence Malick's follow up, 'To The Wonder', and Paul Thomas Anderson's 'The Master', starring Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman as members of a religious cult in World War Two.

Pierce Brosnan takes a turn into Danish movie-making in Susanne Bier's 'Love Is All You Need' while Winona Ryder returns to the red carpet in serial killer story, 'The Iceman.'
 
They'll have plenty of entertain them after screenings, with Prada, Gucci and Vanity Fair all throwing bashes. Grazia has the invites! - so watch this space. A presto!

Words by Emma Pritchard Jones in Venice