42 of the greatest gowns to ever grace the Venice Film Festival red carpet

Everyone harps on about the Cannes red carpet, but there's another Mediterranean film festival that delivers serious glam

2018: Cate Blanchett in Armani Prive 

2018: Sara Sampaio in Armani Prive. 

2018: Lady Gaga in Valentino Haute Couture 

2018: Naomi Watts in Armani Prive. 

2018: Natalie Portman in Gucci 

2018: Nicole Warne in Armani Prive 

2017: Renata Kuerten in Alberta Ferretti 

2017: Stella Egitto in Gucci 

2016: Suki Waterhouse in Dolce & Gabbana

2016: Emma Stone in Atelier Versace 

2016: Gemma Arterton in Stella McCartney. 

2016: Anna Safroncik in Alberta Ferretti 

2016: Amy Adams in Tom Ford. 

2016: Dakota Fanning in Miu Miu 

2015: Elisabeth Banks in Dolce & Gabbana. 

2015: Paz Vega in Ralph & Russo Couture. 

2015: Viann Zhang in white feathers and embellishment 

2015: Elisabeth Banks in Dolce & Gabanna 

2015: Tilda Swinton in Haider Ackermann

2014: Emma Stone in Valentino. Photo: Getty 

2014:  Chiara Mastronardi in Alberta Ferretti. Photo: Getty 

2014: Alessandra Ambrosio in Alberta Ferretti. Photo: Getty 

2014: Moran Atias in Zac Posen 

2014: Nieves Alvarez in Alberta Ferretti. 

2014: Liya Kebede in Alberta Ferretti. Photo: Getty 

2011: Diane Kruger in Elie Saab Couture. Photo: Getty 

2011: Evan Rachel Wood in Alessandra Rich. 

2011: Madonna in Vionnet. 

2011: Keira Knightley in Valentino Couture. Photo: Getty 

2011: Gwyneth Paltrow in Prada. 

2011: Jessica Chastain in Elie Saab Couture. 

2010: Natalie Portman in Rodarte

2010: Afef Jnifen in Valentino Couture. 

2010: Michelle Williams in Jason Wu. 

2009: Julianne Moore in her signature hue, an emerald green Tom Ford. 

2009: Elisabetta Canalis in Roberto Cavalli. Photo: Getty 

2009: Han Yuqin in bright white Christian Dior. 

2009: Xuan Zhu in bold sequinned red. Photo: Getty 

2005: Alek Wek in a Valentino gown embroidred with the word 'peace' in many languages. Photo: Getty 

2004: Scarlett Johansson in Alberta Ferretti. Photo: Getty 

2004: Nicole Kidman in Gucci. Photo: Getty

2002: Italian superstar Monica Bellucci in corseted pink satin. Photo: Getty 

The Italians do style very well, and this event's red carpet proves it. From Lady Gaga in Valentino in 2018 to Scarlett Johansson in Alberta Ferretti in 2004, here are 42 of the best gowns ever seen on the Venice Film Festival red carpet.

The glitzy festival kicked off again Wednesday, and runs until September 7. There are 21 films vying for the prestigious Golden Lion award this year. They include La Verite (The Truth), by Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda (the opening night film), No.7 Cherry Lane by Hong Kong director Yonfan and The Perfect Candidate by Saudi Arabian director Haifaa al-Mansour.

This year, rows about the inclusion of filmmakers Roman Polanski and Nate Parker threaten to take some of the sheen off a selection featuring a dazzling array of major stars including Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Kristen Stewart, Meryl Streep and Scarlett Johansson at the festival.

The festival is considered a true launchpad for the Oscars.