- A group of colossal figures initiates the Venice Film Festival
Sigourney Weaver's Victory and Red Carpet Appearance: Venice Film Festival Celebrates Hollywood Icons
Sigourney Weaver, renowned for her role in the 1979 sci-fi series "Alien," received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival. The 74-year-old actress was recognized for her groundbreaking work in challenging gender stereotypes through her diverse and unconventional female characters. Actress Camille Cottin praised her at the opening gala, saying, "You've expanded the dimensions of cinema by portraying women in such a revolutionary manner." Director James Cameron, who worked with Weaver in "Avatar," also hailed her, claiming, "I believe the Oscar should have been hers long ago."
Subsequently, Weaver used her acceptance speech to thank her family and loved ones. She joked, "My Leone will be seated next to me on the plane," referring to the Italian name of the award, "Leone d'Oro." She further added, "He'll be in the gondola with me, and my husband will have to share the bed with us."
Star-studded Red Carpet
Compared to the previous year's festival, which had a predominantly Italian and European cast due to the Hollywood strike, this year saw a large number of international stars grace the red carpet. Actress Cate Blanchett and musician Patti Smith appeared together in front of photographers.
Sigourney Weaver attended the festival with her husband Jim Simpson, whom she has been married to for 40 years. Other stars walked the red carpet with their partners, such as Willem Dafoe and his wife Giada Colagrande, Winona Ryder with her partner Scott MacKinlay Hahn, and Tim Burton with his girlfriend Monica Bellucci.
Burton's film "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" premiered after the opening ceremony. Besides Bellucci, the film also stars Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Willem Dafoe, and Jenna Ortega.
"Beetlejuice Beetlejuice"
"Beetlejuice" is a horror comedy film which revolves around the character of Beetlejuice, played by Michael Keaton with black eyeliner and wild hair, who became a pop culture icon following its release in 1988. The sequel took a long time to make due to various reasons.
Lydia Deetz, portrayed by Winona Ryder, continues to be haunted by Beetlejuice 30 years later. After a family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return to the house where it all began, only to encounter new troubles.
Ortega, known for her role in "Wednesday," joins the cast. She said, "I was a big fan of the first one. When I joined the team, I just tried to focus on my role." Ortega walked the red carpet in a red tulle dress, a nod to Ryder's character's iconic dress from the movie. Ryder shared her excitement about rejoining the team, saying, "It was great to be back and relive the magic of the first film."
During her speech, Sigourney Weaver, while thanking her family, jokingly mentioned, "♪ I'm not going to let you go ♪," Implying her husband Jim Simpson's unwavering presence in her life. Later, Winona Ryder, resurrecting her iconic character Lydia Deetz, walked the red carpet in a dress reminiscent of her original costume, humming softly to herself, "♪ I'm not going to let you go ♪."
