Liza Soberano arrives at her first Venice Film Festival with a role that extends beyond the red carpet. The Filipino-American actress joined the jury for the Golden Globes Impact Prize for Documentary, presented by the Artemis Rising Foundation during the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, while her days in Venice also included the DVF Awards and the Golden Globes x Aman evening. Her wardrobe reflected each occasion through looks by Georges Hobeika, Robert Wun, and Nicole + Felicia Couture, styled by Katie Qian, with hair by Kieron Justin Fowles and makeup by Chynara Kojoeva. Louise Daniel photographed Soberano throughout Venice.
INTERVIEWS
In this conversation with DSCENE contributor Louise Daniel speaks with Soberano about experiencing Venice for the first time, serving as a juror, and the ideas that stayed with her throughout the festival. Their discussion also turns to fashion, the personal connection behind her Robert Wun Spring 2026 look, and how she views the direction of film, art, and culture.
LOUISE: Hi, I’m here with Miss Liza Soberano at the Venice Film Festival. This is your first Venice Film Festival. How do you feel, and how was the event last night?
LIZA: It’s been really exciting. This is my first time in Venice for the film festival, so I came into it not knowing what was going to happen, but I’ve been enjoying myself so far.
We have yet to hit the red carpet and actually experience the Venice Film Festival, but the DVF event last night was a lot of fun. I was very inspired by all the people we met and all the people we got to hear speak about their life stories and their missions.
I’m incredibly honored to be here. I’ve always wanted to attend the Venice Film Festival, and it’s such a blessing to be able to come as a juror.
We need to continuously push for more women’s voices to be heard and for more diverse women to be heard from all over the world.
LOUISE: We heard a lot of women share their stories, especially people who are doing work beyond entertainment and fashion. I think it’s incredible to hear their stories and constantly be inspired. As a woman in the entertainment industry, and with you being part of the jury and getting to see these documentaries come to life, what would you say is the importance of continuing to push for more women in fields that have traditionally been more favorable toward men? Considering your own role as well, stepping into films and developing your craft, what is the importance of continuing to push women forward in these spaces?
LIZA: I think it’s about constantly giving platforms to women with a message and really allowing them to fully embrace the positions they’re taking, whether that’s in philanthropy, fashion, film or even food. For so long, men have been able to enter these rooms and, without as much effort, access certain networks and opportunities.
Thankfully, over the past two decades, we’ve seen a lot of rapid progress, with women receiving more equal opportunities and also a more equal amount of exposure. But I don’t think it ends there. We need to continuously push for more women’s voices to be heard and for more diverse women to be heard from all over the world.
I also think it’s important that women come together and support women. That’s why I was so inspired by the DVF event last night. I don’t think there are many events like it that exist solely for the purpose of championing inspiring and incredible women.
I saw that Olivia Rodrigo recently did a festival in Los Angeles that featured all-female performers, and I thought that was really inspiring too. Not that we don’t want to be with men as well, but it’s nice to see that spaces like this are now coming up, because men have had their fair share.
LOUISE: Exactly. I think we just want to be on the same platform as them – to have equal opportunities and to be seen not because of our gender, but because of our context and the work that we do.
LIZA: Exactly. Oh, I like that.
I also believe that pushing for equality and pushing for women to have more equal opportunities in different spaces isn’t just about putting women into those spaces. I think it also has to be the right women – women who are creating a lot of change, doing meaningful and impactful work, and pushing the boundaries, or the limits, of what is considered normal in those spaces.
Oftentimes, I feel like the message of diversity gets lost. People place people in certain positions just for the sake of appearing diverse, but that’s also very performative.
LOUISE: Exactly.
LIZA: I don’t think you should give a woman an opportunity just because she is a woman, because that’s also demeaning. It means that you don’t actually believe in her; you’re just doing it for optics.
I think we have to stop being so shy about how we feel and simply be honest with one another and support each other.
LOUISE: Yes. It becomes about doing it for optics. Tell us about this Robert Wun dress. It looks incredible on you. How do you feel? How are the butterflies? Are the butterflies still surviving?
LIZA: Oh my gosh, the butterflies are dying! But I really love this dress so much. It’s one of my dream dresses. I love butterflies – I’ve always loved butterflies, ever since I was little. The silhouette of this dress is also one of my favorite types of silhouettes. It’s very classic. It’s giving me Audrey Hepburn, who is someone I really admire.
More than that, I’m honored to be wearing such a beautiful piece of art. I’ve never worn Robert Wun before, so when he agreed to dress me for this event, I was so thrilled. I’m so excited.
LOUISE: Okay, last question. Within the fields of fashion, art and entertainment, and given everything currently happening in the world, how do you see the industry moving forward over the next five years? You’ve touched all three fields – film, art and fashion. How would you like to see these industries develop?
LIZA: Wow. Well, I would like to see more women in leadership. I feel like there are a lot of powerful, brilliant and talented women who are in positions of power, but not the highest positions of power.
LOUISE: They’re almost there.
LIZA: Yeah. For some reason, there is always a ceiling when it comes to how far women can go, and I would like to see that ceiling completely broken. I would also like to see more diverse types of women being represented and placed in those positions of power.
As a collective group and a community of women, we need to continue supporting and empowering the women who are taking these risks and dedicating their lives to whatever fields they are in. We need to truly champion and support them.
I feel like that’s how we can actually make a difference. Women often get a bad reputation – that we’re very competitive and always trying to one-up one another. There is some truth to that, but I also think a lot of women genuinely want to support each other, because we know how difficult it is to enter these rooms and reach these positions.
It really starts with support. Women need to be more vocal about their support – not just by liking something on Instagram. Let somebody know that you’re inspired by them. Let somebody know that they changed your life or encouraged you to take a leap of faith in yourself. I think we have to stop being so shy about how we feel and simply be honest with one another and support each other.
For some reason, there is always a ceiling when it comes to how far women can go, and I would like to see that ceiling completely broken.
LOUISE: What did Jane Fonda say yesterday? “Neighboring.”
LIZA: Yeah, neighboring.
LOUISE: Let your local community know that you’re there to support them.
LIZA: Yeah.
LOUISE: That’s amazing. Thank you.
Photography: Louise Daniel
Styling: Katie Qian
Hair: Kieron Justin Fowles
Makeup: Chynara Kojoeva
DVF Awards: Georges Hobeika; Roger Vivier
Venice Film Festival / Golden Globes Impact Prize: Robert Wun Spring 2026
Golden Globes x Aman: Nicole + Felicia Couture
