The 83rd Venice International Film Festival began on 2nd September on Lido Island in Italy with 21 movies bidding for the Golden Lion, the top prize.

Johnnie To, the Chinese (Hong Kong SAR) director, is one of the international jury members for the competition, which is led by U.S. actress/director Maggie Gyllenhaal.

U.S. actor, director, and producer George Clooney was the Golden Lion recipient for Lifetime Achievement at the opening ceremony.

The festival, which runs until Sept. 12, was first held in 1932. In addition to France’s Cannes Film Festival and Germany’s Berlin International Film Festival, it is considered one of the three great film festivals in Europe.