The bellinis were flowing on the Lido as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association hosted its annual Biennale reception for filmmakers, dignitaries, and other special guests at the 79^th Venice Film Festival. Held poolside at the historic Excelsior Hotel, the gathering has become a tradition by the HFPA to not only pay tribute to the creative talent attending but to announce the new recipients of the Association’s co-sponsorship of the Venice Film Residency Program. That program selects four young directors for a unique opportunity to be mentored by industry professionals in Hollywood.

Under a beautiful late afternoon September sun the guests started arriving, many of which represented noteworthy films being showcased during the eleven-day festival such as Padre Pio, Monica, Don’t Worry Darling, Athena, The Ghost of Richard Harris, and The Whale.

“I’m so glad you wanted me,” said Shia LaBeouf, one of the first to arrive and casually attired in shorts, a blue shirt, and a baseball cap that portrayed both NY and LA logos. Starring in Abel Ferrara’s Padre Pio which chronicles the early years of the late Franciscan Capuchin friar and mystic’s life, the 36-year-old actor added, “This film changed my life. It gave me a new purpose.” In great spirits, LaBeouf mingled with the crowd and then spent more than thirty minutes by the velvet ropes, signing autographs and taking pictures with admiring fans who were passing through the venue.

Romain Gavras, son of Golden Globe winner Costa-Gavras, brought his cast of the buzzed-about Athena. An often brutal and violent examination of racism and injustice within one volatile immigrant Paris suburb, the story unfolds through the lens of four brothers of Algerian descent, Gavras introduced three of the cast, Dali Benssalah, Sami Slimane, and Karim Lasmi, who were thrilled audiences were responding so positively to the ripped-from-the-headlines aspect of the plot.

Gavras, a frequent visitor to his father’s set, revealed that he started making his own moves as a child and that wielding a camera is second nature to him. Known for overseeing music videos by such artists as Kanye West, M.I.A and Jamie xx, he was proud of his movie. “It’s a Greek tragedy,” he noted. “We watch what happens to this family as one spark sets their world ablaze.”

Italian director Andrea Pallaoro arrived with his film’s three stars, Patricia Clarkson, Joshua Close, and Trace Lysette, who saw their film Monica premiere that same day. A tender portrait of family disconnects, the film chronicles a woman’s return home to spend time with her estranged dying mother and find closure to the pain of her past. It also marks the first time a trans actor (Lysette) has starred in a Venice competition film.

For Clarkson, the film was also bittersweet, as her beloved dog Spinee, which co-stars in the film, died after filming. “Watching the film tonight was unsettling as I had this joy watching this beautiful movie and then seeing my loving dog.”

As guests mingled around the pool promenade, being served an assortment of Italian appetizers and the famous Venetian local cocktail of Prosecco and peach purée, all eyes turned to welcome the director of the festival, Alberto Barbera, attired in his traditional evening black tie. During his decade as the Festival’s guiding force, he has engaged world filmmakers to make Venice a must-stop on the fall launch campaigns, this year securing work by such noted directors as Noah Baumbach, Darren Aronovsky, Martin McDonagh, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Florian Zeller and Olivia Wilde.

During his tenure, he has forged a strong working relationship with the HFPA, cemented by the joint partnership with the aforementioned Residency program.

“I am so happy with what the HFPA has done,” he said before leaving to attend the premiere of the film Argentina 1985. “To give these young filmmakers help is very important.”

As the last of the bellinis were downed before the party wrapped, the HFPA might have helped a few other filmmakers get through another hectic festival evening.