Clooney Returns for Venice World Premiere of Jay Kelly

George Clooney missed early press events at the Venice International Film Festival this week because of a sinus infection but returned to the Lido on Aug. 28 to join the cast and director Noah Baumbach for the world premiere of Jay Kelly, a Netflix-backed drama that drew an enthusiastic reception and immediate awards chatter. The screening in the Sala Grande ended with an extended standing ovation that lasted roughly eight and a half minutes, during which Clooney embraced costar Adam Sandler and Baumbach and kissed his wife, Amal Clooney, who sat in the audience.

Festival organizers and Clooney's representatives initially said the 64 year old had to scale back commitments after arriving in Venice and that he would miss a press conference and other promotional events earlier in the day. A festival moderator explained his absence was due to a bad sinus infection and said Clooney hoped to be on the red carpet that evening. Baumbach, addressing the room without his star present, quipped, "Even movie stars get sick," and several cast members, including Laura Dern and Adam Sandler, spoke at the conference about the film and Clooney's performance.

Baumbach and Emily Mortimer cowrote...