Kidman in Venice speedboat chase

VENICE, Italy -- Paparazzi in a flotilla of speedboats chased Australian actress Nicole Kidman through the canals of Venice as she arrived for the city's film festival.

Eight speedboats packed with photographers and cameramen hurtled through the waterways as Kidman's aides tried to escape the media attention.

In the middle of the 007-style chase a police boat pulled alongside Kidman's craft ordering its pilot to slow down.

The chase began at the city's airport when Kidman stepped into her waiting boat to the Cipriani hotel, where she left the pursuing photographers with a final wave.

Kidman appears in two festival films -- "Birthday Girl," also showing out of competition, and the in-competition thriller, "The Others," co-produced by ex-husband Tom Cruise, who is not expected to attend the festival.

South African actress Charlize Theron is scheduled to arrive on Thursday. The 26-year-old appears in Woody Allen's "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion," showing out of competition at the festival.

Director Martin Scorsese will also be in Venice to promote his Film Foundation, an association for film restoration. As the foundation's president, Scorsese will present two recently restored films from the 1930s.

Other celebrities expected during the festival's 11-day run include Denzel Washington ("Training Day"), Helen Hunt ("The Curse of the Jade Scorpion"), Johnny Depp ("From Hell"), and Ben Kingsley and Mira Sorvino, both in "The Triumph of Love."

But a number of big names will be missing this year's festivities, including "Dust" star Joseph Fiennes and directors Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen.

U.S. films dominate this year's out-of-competition category at the festival. But the 20-film competition only includes three American films: Richard Linklater's "Waking Life," Larry Clark's "Bully," and Spanish director Alejandro Amenabar's "The Others."

A new competition, the 21-film Cinema of the Present, only includes one U.S. film: Jill Sprecher's "13 Conversations About One Thing."

Last year, just two of 18 films in competition at Venice were American.