By Benjamin Lindsay

The Venice Film Festival kicked off Wednesday with a mix of glamour, politics and cinematic prestige — most notably with the world premiere of Paolo Sorrentino’s “La Grazia” and lifetime achievement honors presented to filmmaker Werner Herzog.

Francis Ford Coppola made his first red carpet appearance at the Biennale for the opening night ceremony since his recent hospitalization, where he presented Herzog with a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. Herzog later screened his documentary “Ghost Elephants.”