The big news at the 66th Annual Venice Film Festival—aside from George Clooney introducing his latest girlfriend to the world—has to do, as always, with movie debuts that tend to get film buffs riled up in their plush, reclining chairs. This year's festival drew names including Oliver Stone, Matt Damon, Michael Moore, and—oh, god—Paris Hilton to the celebration of international film.

Stone had one of the more memorable red carpet moments of the festival when he walked buddy-buddy style with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez to the premiere of South of the Border, his film about the leader and stereotypes associated with him. As The Telegraph UK reports, the two were surrounded by a swarm of 50 bodyguards. Necessary, sure, but also in keeping with Stone's penchant for controversy. ]]> Heidi Atwal 2009-09-11T14:45:18-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/9/1/104927/1335

Today in Venice, the city is full of prosecco glasses clinking and red carpets rolling out as the Venice International Film Festival begins—the world's oldest film festival—and this year brings another impressive roster of films battling for the Golden Lion prize.

Actually, come to think of it, SkyEurope had routes to Venice's Treviso airport; we sure hope no one is stranded elsewhere trying to get to Venice for the films, because they'll sure be missing out on some good stuff. For instance, Michael Moore is using the fest to premiere his newest: "Capitalism: A Love Story," about the US economic meltdown. ]]> JetSetCD 2009-09-01T11:17:38-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/5/8114/06481

Madonna and filmmaker Michael Moore attempted to roil the crowd at the Traverse City Film Festival in Michigan this past weekend. Get psyched for... documentaries?

The singer was in town promoting not her roundly slammed directorial debut, "Filth and Wisdom," but a doc she narrated and produced called "I Am Because We Are." The flick examines the plight of millions of children in Malawi whose parents are dying of AIDS.

As for Bill O'Reilly's punching bag, the founder of the film festival is shopping for a new project after his college-tour clip show "Captain Mike Across America" failed to get distribution. Maybe he'll have something new for Traverse City 2009!

Related Stories:
· Can US Citizens Travel to Cuba? [Jaunted]
· Madonna Settles in at the Setai [HC]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: JustJared]]]> egw 2008-08-05T09:45:05-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/