Australian actress Cate Blanchett arrived at the Venice lido by boat on Tuesday evening (September 1) sporting a black face covering, a day before the start of the world's first post coronavirus pandemic film festival.

Blanchett will head the jury at the festival with the opening ceremony set to take place on Wednesday (September 2).

Fewer Hollywood stars will grace the red carpet this year with strict COVID-19 restrictions.

Anyone attending from outside Europe's Schengen area will have to test for COVID-19 before departure and once on the Lido.

Temperatures will be checked and every second seat in the cinemas will be left empty. Seats will have to be reserved online, audiences will be required to wear a face mask and fans will not be allowed near the red carpet.

Among the stars expected to brave the travel restrictions are U.S. actor Matt Dillon and Spanish director Pedro Almodovar. British actress Tilda Swinton is also expected to attend in person to receive a life achievement award.

The main competition lineup for the Golden Lion award for best film includes 18 titles, compared to 21 last year. Just two are U.S. studio productions: "Nomadland", a road drama by U.S.-based Chinese director Chloe Zhao starring Frances McDormand, and "The World To Come", with Casey Affleck.

(Production: Christian Levaux, Emily Roe, Eleanor Biles)

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