Venice Film Festival Honors Jim Jarmusch with Golden Lion Award

Venice Film Festival Wraps Up with a Stirring Finale

The 82nd Venice Film Festival, one of the most prestigious in the world, concluded on its opening date, August 27. The event was chaired by American director Alexander Payne and saw a number of notable wins and powerful messages.

In the acting categories, Toni Servillo took home the Best Actor award for his role in "La Grazia," while Xin Zhilei was recognised for her performance in "The Sun Rises On Us All," winning Best Actress. The Silver Lion for Best Director was awarded to Benny Safdie for "The Smashing Machine," which stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Emily Blunt.

The second most important prize of the film festival, the Grand Jury Prize, went to "The Voice of Hind Rajab" by Kaouther Ben Hania. This poignant film tells the story of the last moments in the life of the Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, who tragically died in January 2024 while fleeing her family from the city of Gaza. The film suggests that Hind Rajab and parts of her family were killed by Israeli forces.

Kaouther Ben Hania dedicated the award to the Palestinian Red Crescent and repeated her accusation that Israel is committing genocide. Her film also earned her the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actress for "Silent Friend."

Jim Jarmusch's "Father Mother Sister Brother," which features Cate Blanchett, Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Charlotte Rampling, and Vicky Krieps, won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. Jarmusch relies on subtle observations, recurring motifs, gestures, glances, and pauses to explore the complex relationships between adult children and their parents.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa delivered a message about the climate of increasingly strong hatred between the Jewish and Palestinian populations. The name of the Patriarch of Jerusalem who gave a message at the end of the film award ceremony was not provided in the search results.

Gianfranco Rosi won the Special Jury Prize for "Sotto le nuvole." Valérie Donzelli and Gilles Marchand won Best Screenplay for "À pied d'œuvre."

As the Venice Film Festival comes to a close, it leaves behind a powerful impact, with its winning films and messages serving as a reminder of the complexities and challenges faced in our world today.