Fundamental works of cinematic history—including films by Luis Buñuel, John Cassavetes, Roger Corman, Ernst Lubitsch, Roman Polanski, Roberto Rossellini, and Ettore Scola—will begin screening today at the event, which runs through September 12.

Another prominent feature is Venice Immersive, which in its tenth edition will present 68 projects involving virtual reality, augmented reality, and other immersive audiovisual expressions from 26 countries, with 30 works in competition.

Activities for this segment of the festival will take place on the island of Lazzaretto Vecchio in Venice, transforming it into a showcase for new technologies applied to cinema and the arts.

Additional attractions at the gathering include press conferences featuring renowned actors, directors, and producers, as announced on the official website of the Mostra, which is recognized as one of the world's premier and oldest film festivals.

On Tuesday, American actress and filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal, president of the jury, addressed journalists regarding why only two films directed by women were selected for the main competition in this year's edition.

"It is evident that there is a systemic problem," said Gyllenhaal, seated alongside Alberto Barbera, the festival's artistic director, who has drawn substantial criticism over the sparse representation of female directors competing for the Golden Lion.

"I truly believe it is much harder for women to secure financing for their films. Furthermore, it is possible that the themes women wish to explore—having a distinct experience of living in this world—are not always perceived as great art," she expressed.

Of the 21 films competing for the top prize, only two are directed by women: Woman Unknown, by Danish director Kvinde Ukendt, and the documentary Naza, co-directed by Israeli filmmakers Rachel Zsor and Yuhal Abraham, which was added to the lineup at the last minute.