The opening ceremony of the 76th Venice Film Festival at Sala Casino is hosted by Alessandra Mastronardi in Venice, Italy, August 28, 2019. The film "The Truth" starring Catherine Deneuve, Juliette Binoche and Ethan Hawke starts the competition. /VCG Photo

The "winners of the Lions and other official prizes" of the competition will be announced 2 pm on Thursday. Among the winners will be Pedro Almodóvar for the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement for directors. /VCG Photo

The annual festival is recognized by the International Federation of Film Producers Association and it runs at Lido di Venezia from August 28 to September 7, 2019 this year. /VCG Photo

The purpose of the film festival involves promoting international films in all formats as art, entertainment and industry as general, with freedom and through dialogue. /VCG Photo