Keira Knightley may only be 22 but she could well receive her second Academy Award nomination for her starring role in “Atonement,” which premiered Wednesday at the Venice Film Festival.

Critics who viewed the Joe Wright-directed drama last night at the 64th annual Venice Film Festival were impressed with Keira Knightley’s acting. “Atonement” was chosen as the festival’s curtain raiser and more than lived up to the expectations.

Keira Knightley and James McAvoy star as Cecilia and Robbie in this screen adaptation of Ian McEwan’s 2001 wartime novel of the same name. Veteran actress Vanessa Redgrave costars, as well as Romola Garai and Brenda Blethyn.

“Atonement,” slated for a mid-September release in the UK and a December release in the U.S., is in official competition for the prestigious festival’s Golden Lion award for best film.

Keira Knightley has already enjoyed the experience of being nominated for an Academy Award for best actress, for her starring role in 2005’s “Pride and Prejudice,” based on the homonymous novel by Jane Austen.

Keira came to the public’s attention in 2002, with her starring role in “Bend It Like Beckham.” She has since made her mark as the valiant Elizabeth Swann in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series, where she starred along with Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom.

Other films Keira has played in are “Love Actually,” “King Arthur” and “Domino.”

The 11-day festival runs though Sept. 8, when it ends with the screening of “Blood Brothers” by first-time director Alexi Tan.

Among the 57 featured films, of which only 23 are competing for the Golden Lion, are Brian De Palma's “Redacted,” Paul Haggis' “In the Valley of Elah” and Woody Allen’s “Cassandra's Dream.”

Films in the competition are “Michael Clayton,” starring George Clooney and “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,” starring Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck and Sam Shepherd.

Director Zhang Yimou, who has already won two Golden Lions, is the head of the main jury this year. He is joined by Jane Campion, Paul Verhoeven, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Ferzan Ozpetek and Emanuele Crialese.