Venice 2016, Day 4: Give the People What They Want

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Atmosphere - 73rd Venice Film Festival

VENICE, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 02: Fans taking pictures of celebrities during the 73rd Venice Film Festival on August 29, 2016 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

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'The Young Pope' Premiere - 73rd Venice Film Festival

VENICE, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 03: Actor Jude Law signs autographs at the premiere of 'The Young Pope' during the 73rd Venice Film Festival at Palazzo del Casino on September 3, 2016 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

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'Brimstone' Premiere - 73rd Venice Film Festival

VENICE, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 03: Actress Dakota Fanning signs autographs at the premiere of 'Brimstone' during the 73rd Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 3, 2016 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

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'Brimstone' Premiere - 73rd Venice Film Festival

VENICE, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 03: Actress Dakota attends the premiere of 'Brimstone' during the 73rd Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 3, 2016 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

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'Hacksaw Ridge' Photocall - 73rd Venice Film Festival

VENICE, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 04: Director Mel Gibson and actor Andrew Garfield attend a photocall for 'Hacksaw Ridge' during the 73rd Venice Film Festival at Palazzo del Casino on September 4, 2016 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

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'Hacksaw Ridge' Premiere - 73rd Venice Film Festival

VENICE, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 04: Fans wait for celebrities at the premiere of 'Hacksaw Ridge' during the 73rd Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 4, 2016 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

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'Hacksaw Ridge' Premiere - 73rd Venice Film Festival

VENICE, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 04: Director Mel Gibson attends the premiere of 'Hacksaw Ridge' during the 73rd Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 4, 2016 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

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'Hacksaw Ridge' Premiere - 73rd Venice Film Festival

VENICE, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 04: Director Mel Gibson signs autographs at the premiere of 'Hacksaw Ridge' during the 73rd Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 4, 2016 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

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'Hacksaw Ridge' Photocall - 73rd Venice Film Festival

VENICE, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 04: Actor Hugo Weaving attends a photocall for 'Hacksaw Ridge' during the 73rd Venice Film Festival at Palazzo del Casino on September 4, 2016 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

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'Hacksaw Ridge' Premiere - 73rd Venice Film Festival

VENICE, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 04: Hugo Weaving signs autographs at the premiere of 'Hacksaw Ridge' during the 73rd Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 4, 2016 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

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'Jesus VR - The Story Of Christ' Public Screening Experience - 73rd Venice Film Festival

VENICE, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 03: Visitors are seen watching selected scenes from the first ever feature length movie in Virtual Reality 'Jesus VR - The Story Of Christ' during the 73rd Venice Film Festival at Palazzo del Casino on September 3, 2016 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

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'Jesus VR - The Story Of Christ' Public Screening Experience - 73rd Venice Film Festival

September 3, 2016

Festivals

One of the most unique aspects of the Venice Film Festival is how intimate it feels, compared to similar grade AA events in the festival circuit. Maybe because it takes place on a resort island that exudes calm and relaxation, maybe because it’s infused with warm Italian joy de vivre, Venice brings audiences and movies, stars and fans as close together as they can be without causing a conflagration. For a world-class festival that can launch careers and define the path of a project, Venice at times feels a bit like an intellectually curated version of Comic-Con, minus the cosplay, plus internationally renowed filmmakers and significant works of cinema. At its heart, it’s all about those wonderful people out there in the dark…