Hong Kong director Tsui Hark's martial arts extravaganza Seven Swords opened the 62nd Venice film festival Wednesday night in Lido. 

Nineteen movies are competing for the Golden Lion at this year's festival, including Terry Gilliam's The Brothers Grimm, John Madden's Proof and Hong Kong director Stanley Kwan's Everlasting Regret.

Organizers have boasted that this year's festival includes an unprecedented nine world premieres of U.S. films, including Good Night, and Good Luck, considered a top contender for the festival's top award - the Golden Lion.

A host of stars including Gwyneth Paltrow, Russell Crowe, George Clooney and Sienna Miller are among the actors expected to appear at Venice, which is the world's longest-running film festival.

The festival ends on September 10 with another Chinese movie, Perhaps Love, directed by Peter Ho-Sun Chan.

(CRI September 1, 2005)