Mandatory face masks and temperature checks: Inside the opening of the Venice Film Festival

The cinematic celebration undeniably looks a lot different than it did just a year ago

President of the jury, Cate Blanchett, poses on the opening day of the 77th Venice Film Festival at Venice Lido. Reuters

Cate Blanchett briefly removed her face mask for the photocall. Getty Images

Jury member Matt Dillon holds his face mask as he poses during the photocall. AFP

Matt Dillon also removed his mask briefly. Getty Images

Luigi De Laurentiis Award jury Remi Bonhomme, Dora Bouchoucha and Claudio Giovannesi attend the opening of the 77th Venice Film Festival on September 2, 2020. Getty Images

Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha attends the photocall. Getty Images

Orizzonti jury president Claire Denis attends the photocall at the 77th Venice Film Festival on September 2, 2020. Getty Images

Orizzonti jury member Francesca Comencini attends the photocall at the 77th Venice Film Festival on September 2, 2020 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images

Actor Anthony Delon arrives at the Excelsior during the 77th Venice Film Festival on September 2, 2020 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images

Karel Och, Vanja Kaludjercic, Jose Luis Rebordinos, Lili Hinstin, Thierry Fremaux and Alberto Barbera attend the photocall at the 77th Venice Film Festival on September 2, 2020 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images

Model Taylor Hill arrives at the Excelsior during the 77th Venice Film Festival on September 2, 2020 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images

Model Taylor Hill arrives at the Excelsior during the 77th Venice Film Festival on September 2, 2020 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images

A festivalgoer undergoes a body temperature scan outside the festival's palace on the opening day of the 77th Venice Film Festival. AFP

A thermal scan device checks the body temperature of people at the entrance of the 77th annual Venice International Film Festival. EPA

A security officer wearing a face mask checks the body temperature of a woman at the entrance of the 77th annual Venice International Film Festival. EPA

Gone is a lot of the glitz and the glamour, but that's not to say this year's Venice International Film Festival is entirely without star power.

The 77th iteration of the annual cinematic celebration officially kicked off in the Italian city on Wednesday, September 2, with a number of famous faces jetting in for the occasion.

Jury president Cate Blanchett made an appearance at the opening photocall, donning a disposable face mask which she briefly removed as she posed on stage.

Scroll through the gallery above to see more images from the opening of the 77th annual Venice International Film Festival.

Actor Matt Dillon, model Taylor Hill and Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha were also in attendance on the festival's first day.

All sported protective face masks, which are required indoors at all times during the festival.

A number of other security measures have also been introduced at the event, the first major in-person film showcase since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

The public are barred from the red carpet, Hollywood stars and films are largely absent, and the slightly reduced line-up still contains in-competition films from a number of countries, but will be a mostly European affair.

The festival will run until Saturday, September 12.