The 78th edition of the Venice Film Festival begins with Madres paralelas written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar.
The drama film, in which Penélope Cruz and Milena Smit play two single mothers who meet in a maternity ward, is also competing for a Golden Lion.
Competitors also make the film Spencer, a feature film about Princess Diana with Kristen Stewart in the lead role.
The film is directed by Pablo Larrain and takes place during the Christmas weekend of 1991 when Princess Diana decides to divorce Prince Charles.
Roberto Benigni is praised for his life's work
The festival also awards prizes for Lifetime achievement.
This year, the prize goes to the Italian director and actor Roberto Benigni, who will receive a golden lion during the premiere night.
It is already clear that the British film director Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade runner and others) will be awarded the "Glory to the filmmaker award".
The festival also shows the TV series Scenes from a marriage, the new version of Ingmar Bergman's Scenes from a Marriage.
A series created by Israeli-American director Hagai Levi, starring Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac.