At festivals like Venice and Toronto, striking actors face 'court of public opinion'

With the start of film festivals in Venice and Telluride this week, with Toronto, New York and London soon to follow, many of the year's most anticipated titles will be unveiled in the next few months. Under normal circumstances, there would also be plenty of glamour to go along with them, with red-carpet appearances by starry casts leaving lucky audiences wowed.

Due to the ongoing strikes by the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, there has been an air of uncertainty around the red carpets, galas and press calls that mark the fall festival season, and which A-listers could or would be there. With SAG-AFTRA's use of interim agreements — by which independent projects agree to abide by the guild's current proposals in order for actors to continue with production and promotion — the picture has gotten even cloudier. Although it has become clear that the festivals won't be as deprived of stars as some feared, the