VENICE -- Italian diva Sophia Loren and Oscar winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow starred in the opening ceremony of the 59th edition of the Venice Film Festival.

Iranian feature film **** "Women's Prison"**** directed by Manijeh Hekmat is to compete in the Controcorrente (Upstream) Section of the festival along with 17 other foreign films for San Marco Award.

Other Iranian features **** "Blank Cassette"***, and **** "Examination"**** as well as the short films **** "God", "Construction, Destruction", "Afghan Children"**** and **** "Wind Will Comb Your Hair"**** will be screened in different sections of the festival.

Last year **** "Secret Ballot"*** by Iranian director Babak Payami won the Golden Lion of the festival for the best director.

The festival, headed by its recently-appointed director, Moritz de Hadeln, has an international flavor, with contributions from all corners of the world.

Italy will nevertheless feature prominently, with special celebrations in store for Italian directors Dino Risi and Michelangelo Antonioni.

Sophia Loren makes her return in a film directed by her son, Edoardo Ponti, in the out-of-competition *** "Between Strangers"*** - the 100th film of her everlasting career.

Chinese actress Gong Li is the head of the jury which will have to sift through nearly 80 films before naming the winners, on September 8.