Tom Ford, the former star designer at Gucci, makes his directorial debut at the Venice Film Festival, with A Single Man an intimate movie about coping with loss and grief.

Ford said that it is “the most personal thing” he has ever done.

The first trailer for the movie features a cameo by Ford’s favorite ad model, Jon Kortajarena, as hustler Carlos.

The movie, set in Los Angeles in the 1960s, is an intimate story about coping with loss and grief based on a book by Christopher Isherwood.

“A Single Man” stars Colin Firth as a college professor coming to grips with solitude after his partner of 16 years dies. Also starring are Matthew Goode, playing the professor’s partner, and Julianne Moore as a friend.

“People who don’t know me well will be very surprised by the film. It shows a different side of me.” Ford said

“The process seems really natural to me, and I’d ideally like to make a film every three to four years.”

But he wants to keep his two careers separate: “I didn’t want to be perceived as some fashion designer who’s come to Venice and decided to make a film. I wanted to avoid anything to do with fashion, and I wanted the film to speak for itself.”

Photo: AP

A Single Man has captured the Queer Golden Lion for gay-themed movies screening at the Venice Film Festival.

The Queer Golden Lion is an unofficial award and is independent of the festival.