VENICE, Italy, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- The 62nd Venice Film Festival kicked off Wednesday amid high security.
Police scuba divers scoured the lagoon, sharpshooters were perched on roofs and metal detectors lined the sidewalk into the Palazzo del Cinema, Daily Variety reported.
Italy is considered at high risk of a terrorist attack because of its support of the U.S.-led contingent in Iraq.
Several of Hollywood's brightest stars were in Venice Wednesday, including Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart, star of Jaume Balaguero's non-competing thriller "Fragile."
George Clooney, Laura Linney, Jacqueline Bisset, Sienna Miller, Jeremy Irons, Heath Ledger, Spike Lee, John Woo and Emir Kusturica were also expected for Wednesday's opening night festivities.
The competition formally begins Thursday with Clooney's "Good Night and Good Luck."
The festival runs through Sept. 10.
