Venice makes final preparations for annual film festival opening

Venice makes the final preparations for its annual film festival, a highlight of the international circuit, where it will roll out the red carpet in a flurry of worldwide premieres.

The Venice Film Festival kicks off Wednesday and runs through September 6th, rolling out the red carpet for Julia Roberts and George Clooney in a flurry of worldwide premieres at the glitzy celebration on the sandy Lido.

Venice, a highlight of the international film circuit, will serve up big budget films -- such as Benny Safdie's "The Smashing Machine" starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as an ageing wrestler -- and smaller independent works. The film festival was established in 1932, then a non-competitive event, by the La Biennale di Venezia, hosting films like “Grand Hotel” and “It Happened One Night.”