Venice Film Festival: Pedro Almodóvar, Nicole Kidman win top honors
The 81st Venice Film Festival concluded on Saturday with a grand award ceremony. The coveted Golden Lion for Best Film was bestowed upon The Room Next Door, marking Pedro Almodóvar's first venture into English-language cinema. This film, starring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton, emerged as the festival's most esteemed honor. Meanwhile, the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize was awarded to Vermiglio by Maura Delpero.
Brady Corbet, Dea Kulumbegashvili among other winners
The Silver Lion for Best Director was won by Brady Corbet for The Brutalist. Meanwhile, the Special Jury Prize was awarded to April by Dea Kulumbegashvili. Best Screenplay went to I'm Still Here by Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega. Nicole Kidman bagged the Volpi Cup for Best Actress for her performance in Babygirl while Vincent Lindon secured the Volpi Cup for Best Actor for The Quiet Son. Kidman, however, had to leave the ceremony due to her mother's demise.
Paul Kircher, Bogdan Muresanu among other winners
The Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actor or Actress was presented to Paul Kircher for his role in And Their Children After Them. In the Horizons Section, the award for Best Film went to The New Year That Never Came by Bogdan Muresanu. Sarah Friedland won Best Director for Familiar Touch and also secured the Lion of the Future - Luigi De Laurentiis Award for a Debut Film with the same movie.
'Familiar Touch' and 'Who Loves the Sun' won big
In the Horizons Section, Friedland's Familiar Touch also earned Kathleen Chalfant the Best Actress award. The Best Actor honor was given to Francesco Ghegi for Familia, while Best Screenplay was awarded to Happy Holidays by Scandar Copti. The section's Special Jury Prize went to One of Those Days When Hemme Dies by Murat Firatoglu. Arshia Shakiba's Who Loves The Sun bagged the title of Best Short Film.
'Ecce Bombo,' 'Chain Reactions' won in Venice Classics
In the Venice Classics category, Nanni Moretti's Ecce Bombo was named Best Restored Film. The award for Best Documentary on Cinema was given to Chain Reactions. The Audience Award in the Horizons Extra section went to The Witness (Shahed). In the Venice Immersive category, Impulse: Playing With Reality won the Achievement Award, Oto's Planet secured the Special Jury Prize, and Ito Meikyu bagged the Grand Prize.
