The first day was marked by the screening of Comandante by Edoardo De Angelis, which garnered long applause, and the Golden Award for Lifetime Achievement to 90-year-old Italian auteur, Liliana Cavani.
Comandante, starring Pierfrancesco Favino, is the story of Salvatore Todaro, an Italian naval officer and submariner who towed to safety lifeboats carrying the survivors of ships he had sunk during the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II.
A submarine from the period docked at Saint Mark’s Square for the occasion.
The award to Cavani came during the opening ceremony, which was hosted by actress and ex-Bond girl Caterina Murino.
Cavani, who is is best known internationally for her cult and controversial 1974 film The Night Porter, called for "more attention for women" after receiving her prize from the protagonist of that masterpiece, British actress Charlotte Rampling.
She first took part in the festival in 1965 when she won the best documentary prize with Philippe Petain: Processo a Vichy.
The festival is also set to give a career Golden Lion to Hong Kong actor, Tony Leung Chiu-wai.
The 80th edition of the world’s oldest film festival runs until September 9.
