Faithful to a tradition initiated by Gabrielle Chanel in the early 20th century, CHANEL continues its commitment to cinema by participating in the 82nd Venice Film Festival, held from 27 August to 6 September 2025 at the Palazzo del Cinema.
From her first collaborations with filmmakers and actresses, Gabrielle Chanel understood the power of cinema to convey fashion to a wider audience. She worked with directors such as Jean Cocteau, Luchino Visconti, Louis Malle and Alain Resnais, dressing icons including Romy Schneider, Jeanne Moreau and Delphine Seyrig. This legacy has been carried forward by Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard, who strengthened the House’s ties with the seventh art by supporting film productions, festivals, and restoration projects.
CHANEL and Venice
Venice has been a source of inspiration for the House since Gabrielle Chanel’s first visit in 1920. The city also marked key milestones in CHANEL’s cinematic history: Alain Resnais’ Last Year at Marienbad (Golden Lion, 1961) and Louis Malle’s Le Feu follet (1963) both featured CHANEL costumes and won awards at the Festival.
In the picture: Audrey Diwan, Alberto Barbara and the Biennale College finalist.
Supporting Emerging Talent: Biennale College – Cinema
For the first time, CHANEL partners with the Biennale College – Cinema, La Biennale di Venezia’s programme dedicated to mentoring young filmmakers. Since 2012, the initiative has guided international directors through all stages of filmmaking. In its 13th edition (2024–25), four completed projects will premiere at the Festival. This year’s patron is director Audrey Diwan, winner of the Golden Lion in 2021 for Happening, starring CHANEL ambassador Anamaria Vartolomei.
This partnership echoes Gabrielle Chanel’s early role as patron of the arts, from supporting Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in 1920 to helping launch the career of Luchino Visconti. Today, the House continues her vision by nurturing the next generation of filmmakers.
Restoration of a Classic: Port of Shadows
CHANEL also supports the restoration of Marcel Carné’s Port of Shadows (1938), a landmark of French cinema. For the film, Gabrielle Chanel created the heroine’s understated yet iconic look – a beret and a raincoat for a young Michèle Morgan. This work marked the beginning of her lasting bond with cinema, shaped by her Hollywood experience in the 1930s.
The restoration, carried out by Studiocanal and La Cinémathèque française with CHANEL as Major Patron, preserves this cinematic treasure using original negatives and nitrate prints.
