VENICE, Italy -- Sandra Bullock and George Clooney kick off the 70th edition of the Venice Film Festival with "Gravity," a 3-D techno-drama set in outer space.
Bullock and Clooney play astronauts adrift in space after debris from a destroyed space station takes out their shuttle in the Alfonso Cuaron film, which opens the festival out of competition on Thursday. The stars arrived by motorboat convoy Wednesday a day ahead of their red-carpet global premier.
Twenty films are vying for the coveted Golden Lion at the world's oldest film festival, which closes Sept. 7. The jury is headed by Oscar-winning director Bernardo Bertolucci.
Golden Lion contenders include Terry Gilliam's "The Zero Theorem," Peter Landesman's "Parkland" and Kelly Reichardt's "Night Moves."
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Sandra Bullock, George Clooney kick off Venice Film Festival
The Associated Press
Published Wednesday, August 28, 2013 7:25AM EDT
Sandra Bullock and George Clooney arrive to promote their film 'Gravity' at the 70th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013. (AP / David Azia)