The 81st Venice Film Festival, presided over by Isabelle Huppert and a distinguished jury including James Gray, Andrew Haigh, and Zhang Ziyi, conclude
The 81st Venice Film Festival, presided over by Isabelle Huppert and a distinguished jury including James Gray, Andrew Haigh, and Zhang Ziyi, concluded with an awards ceremony that veered away from recent trends of dominant U.S. productions. The festival was ripe with speculation about potential winners, particularly after “The Brutalist” by Brady Corbet, starring Adrien Brody, became a frontrunner. Despite its acclaim and the buzz it generated, it did not secure the top prize. Instead, the Golden Lion was awarded to Pedro Almodóvar for “The Room Next Door,” a profound exploration of the decision to end one’s life, starring Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore.
Almodóvar’s acceptance speech, delivered primarily in Spanish, highlighted the film’s deep emotional and cultural roots, despite being his first English-language project. This win marks Almodóvar’s second Golden Lion, adding to his illustrious career accolades. “The Room Next Door” had previously garnered significant attention at its premiere, receiving a 17-minute standing ovation.
Other notable winners included Maura Delpero’s “Vermiglio,” which took the Grand Jury Prize. The film was praised for its understated portrayal of rural life in the Italian Alps, capturing a war story without the war, as described by jury president Huppert. The Special Jury Prize went to Déa Kulumbegashvili’s “April,” recognized for its stark portrayal of female struggles against societal and natural adversities.
The screenplay award went to Walter Salles’ “I’m Still Here,” set against the backdrop of Brazil’s military dictatorship, celebrated for its unexpected narrative turns and depth. Nicole Kidman won the Best Actress award for her role in “Babygirl,” although she was absent due to the sudden loss of her mother, adding a poignant note to her recognition.
The festival also shone a spotlight on emerging filmmakers, with Sarah Friedland’s “Familiar Touch” winning multiple awards, including Best Director in the Horizons section and the Luigi de Laurentiis Award for Best Debut Feature. Friedland’s acceptance speech addressed the political undertones of her film and her solidarity with Palestine, marking a moment of significant political expression at the festival.
Here is the complete list of winners from the 81st Venice Film Festival:
Competition:
- Golden Lion for Best Film: “The Room Next Door,” Pedro Almodóvar
- Grand Jury Prize: “Vermiglio,” Maura Delpero
- Silver Lion for Best Director: Brady Corbet, “The Brutalist”
- Special Jury Prize: “April,” Déa Kulumbegashvili
- Best Screenplay: Murilo Hauser, Heitor Lorega, “I’m Still Here”
- Volpi Cup for Best Actress: Nicole Kidman, “Babygirl”
- Volpi Cup for Best Actor: Vincent Lindon, “The Quiet Son”
- Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor: Paul Kircher, “And Their Children After Them”
Horizons:
- Best Film: “The New Year That Never Came,” Bogdan Mureşanu
- Best Director: Sarah Friedland, “Familiar Touch”
- Special Jury Prize: “One of Those Days When Hemme Dies,” Murat Firatoglu
- Best Actress: Kathleen Chalfant, “Familiar Touch”
- Best Actor: Francesco Gheghi, “Familia”
- Best Screenplay: Scandar Copti, “Happy Holidays”
- Best Short Film: “Who Loves the Sun,” Arshia Shakiba
Lion of the Future:
- Luigi de Laurentiis Award for Best Debut Feature: “Familiar Touch,” Sarah Friedland
Horizons Extra:
- Audience Award: “The Witness,” Nader Saivar
Venice Classics:
- Best Documentary on Cinema: “Chain Reactions,” Alexandre O. Philippe
- Best Restored Film: “Ecce Bombo,” Nanni Moretti
Venice Immersive:
- Grand Jury Prize: “Ito Meikyu,” Boris Labbé
- Special Jury Prize: “Oto’s Planet,” Gwenael François
- Achievement Prize: “Impulse: Playing With Reality,” Barry Gene Murphy, May Abdalla
Giornate degli Autori:
- GdA Director’s Award: “Manas,” Marianna Brennand
- Audience Award: “Taxi Monamour,” Ciro De Caro
- Europa Cinemas Label Award: “Alpha,” Jan-Willem van Ewijk
Critics’ Week:
- Grand Prize: “Don’t Cry, Butterfly,” Dương Diệu Linh
- Special Mention: “No Sleep Till,” Alexandra Simpson
- Audience Award: “Paul & Paulette Take a Bath,” Jethro Massey
This year’s Venice Film Festival highlighted a rich diversity of global cinema, proving that despite a less glittery lineup, the depth and creativity of the films presented kept the spirit of cinema vibrant and transformative.
Sari Albeder – Venice Film Festival 2024
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