Venice Film Festival Honors Jim Jarmusch with Golden Lion Award

The 82nd Venice Film Festival was a celebration of cinematic art, with 21 works competing for top prizes. Among the notable entries was American director Jim Jarmusch's "Father Mother Sister Brother," which featured an impressive cast including Cate Blanchett, Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Charlotte Rampling, and Vicky Krieps. Jarmusch's film, known for its subtle observations and recurring motifs, was awarded the festival's highest honour, the Golden Lion.

Another standout at the festival was the Hungarian director Ildikó Enyedi's film project "Silent Friend," starring Luna Wedler. Wedler won the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actress, although the specific awarding person remains undisclosed. The jury members and award winners did not mention this specific prize or film in their listings.

However, the festival was not without its share of tragedy. Hind Rajab, a Palestinian girl from the city of Gaza, died in January 2024 while fleeing her family. Her story was told in "The Voice of Hind Rajab," a film by Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, which won the second most important prize of the festival, the Grand Jury Prize. Ben Hania dedicated the award to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

Several independent investigations suggest that Rajab and parts of her family were killed by Israeli forces. The Israeli military, however, denied having carried out the attack, stating that there were no troops present at the time. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa delivered a message expressing concern about the climate of increasing hatred between Jewish and Palestinian populations.

The festival also saw the Silver Lion for best director go to Benny Safdie for "The Smashing Machine," starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Emily Blunt. The French duo Valérie Donzelli and Gilles Marchand won best screenplay for "À pied d'œuvre."

Gianfranco Rosi won the jury's special prize for "Sotto le nuvole." Toni Servillo won best actor for his role in "La Grazia."

Jim Jarmusch, wearing a pin on his lapel that said "Enough," was also present at the festival. Kaouther Ben Hania, who dedicated her Grand Jury Prize to the Palestinian Red Crescent, also wore the same pin.

Xin Zhilei won best actress for her role in "The Sun Rises On Us All." Alexander Payne chaired the international jury for the Venice Film Festival.