It’s 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, and 19-year-old Delsina Desanctes is standing outside the Palazzo de Cinema — the iconic venue where the Venice Film Festival takes place — surrounded by umbrellas, suitcases, sleeping bags and even a tent. Every film festival has its die-hards who gather hours in advance to catch a glimpse at their favorite celebrities and share the bragging rights on Instagram and TikTok. But at Venice, it’s an all-night affair.
Along with the umbrellas to block the sun, people are equipped with mosquito repellant, water bottles, portable phone chargers and tripods. If you squint, it almost looks like camp grounds at Burning Man or Coachella (without the dust). Desanctes isn’t fazed by the brutal heat or hours of waiting around.
This is her seventh year in the thick of the action, and she’s gotten good at passing the time. In fact, she’s not even all that interested in the stars. She’s saving a spot for her celebrity-obsessed best friend, who is back at their hotel taking a disco nap before the fun begins.
I love talking to people, so the time passes,” Desanctes says. It’s crazy, but it’s the only time of year I’m going to do that.” Michele, a 29-year-old Italian who has attended the festival for the past decade, took off work so he could get to the Palazzo by 6 p.m. on Tuesday. It’s a lot of effort, sure, but he learned the hard way that showing up any later meant he’d get a lame placement on the carpet.
If you don’t have a decent view of the action, you certainly won’t be able to score any autographs or selfies. I was on the last part of the red carpet,” he says. You push people a little.
It’s like a battle royale,” says Michele. Michele wants to meet Boyle, his favorite director, but he’s prepared to be disappointed. It’s not their fault if they don’t take an autograph or selfie with every person on the red carpet.
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