42 Glorious Venice Film Festival Photos From the ’90s and Early Aughts

What is it about ’90s throwback photos that we all find so alluring? Is it the bright-color, high-flash style, which seemingly flatters everyone? The fact that they feature the same celebrities who still rule the industry today, except when they were more candid and less guarded? Or is it the pared-back fashion, a more relaxed red-carpet mood which feels fresh in today’s ultra-airbrushed landscape?

Well, whatever it is, there’s no denying their appeal, particularly if said shots are from the world’s most glamorous film festivals—sun-drenched, star-studded affairs where Hollywood heavyweights get to let loose and run riot. There’s Sundance, of course, and Cannes, but also Venice Film Festival, the latest edition of which kicks off on August 27. The latter has all the glitz and storied history of its counterparts, but with the added advantage of being set in one of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful and romantic places on earth—a paradise of floating gondolas, glittering islands, ancient bridges, meandering canals, and pristine beaches.

Ahead of opening night, we revisit the best ’90s and aughts photos from the showcase, from Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas canoodling on a water taxi to Salma Hayek serving looks dockside.