Introduction to the 82nd Venice International Film Festival
The 82nd edition of the Venice International Film Festival has come to a triumphant close. As the attendees made their way to the award ceremony on Saturday evening on Lido, the Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania’s film, "The Voice of the Hind Rajab," was widely regarded as the film to beat. This powerful drama, set in Gaza, tells the story of a 6-year-old Palestinian girl after being rescued by Israeli forces. The film received a thundering 21-minute standing ovation, one of the longest in the history of the film festival in Venice.
A Star-Studded Event
The festival saw the presence of Hollywood heavyweights like Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, and Alfonso Cuarón, who joined the team of "The Voice of the Hind Rajab" as executive producers. Critics praised the film, but some accused it of being "intensely" accusatory towards the Israeli population. Other notable films at the festival included Noah Baumbach’s "Jay Kelly," Kathryn Bigelow’s "A House of Dynamite," and Guillermo del Toro’s dark reinterpretation of "Frankenstein."
A Celebration of Cinema
The Venice International Film Festival is a celebration of the art of cinema, and this year’s event was no exception. Despite the challenges facing the theater film business model, the festival proved that the art form remains more important than ever. The attendees were treated to a wide range of films, including Korean Maestro Park Chan-Wook’s wildly inventive black comedy "No Other Choice," Yorgos Lanthimos’ bonkers "Bugonia," and Paolo Sorrentino’s poignant "Grace."
Notable Appearances and Films
The festival saw several notable appearances, including Julia Roberts in Luca Guadagnino’s provocative #MeToo-themed thriller "After the Hunt," Amanda Seyfried in Mona Fastvold’s visionary period drama "Ann Lee," and Dwayne Johnson in his debut as a serious dramatic lead in Benny Safdie’s MMA biopic "The Smashing Machine." Jim Jarmusch’s tender triptych "Father Mother Sister Brother" was also cheered for its effortless storytelling.
More Highlights from the Festival
Other notable films and appearances included Jude Law as Vladimir Putin in Olivier Assayas’ "The Wizard of the Kremlin," François Ozon’s fine adaptation of Albert Camus’ "The Stranger," and Willem Dafoe’s characteristic excellence in "Late Fame" and "The Blower." Julian Schnabel’s must-see film "Megalopolis" also made an impact, as did Werner Herzog’s reception of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.
The Jury and Winners
The jury, chaired by two-time Oscar winner Alexander Payne, included a diverse range of film professionals, including Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres, Iranian author Mohammad Rasoulof, and French director Stéphane Brizé. The winners of the festival were announced live, and the results are as follows:
Main Competition
- Golden Lion – Best Film
- Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize
- Silver Lion – Best Director
- Special Jury Prize
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
- Best Script
Horizonti (Horizons)
- Best Film
- Special Jury Prize
- Best Director
- Best Script
- Best Actress
- Best Actor
- Best Young Actor
- Best Short Film: "Without Kelly" by Lovisa Sirén (Sweden)
- Lion of the Future – Venice Award for a Debut Film
- Additional Horizon Audience Award – Armani Beauty
Venice Classic Section
- Best Documentary about Cinema: "The Eyes of the Day" by Joe Beshenkovsky and James A. Smith (USA)
- Best Restored Film: "Bashu the Little Stranger" by Bahram Beyzaie (Iran)
Venice Immersive Section
- Venice Urgent Performance Prize: "The Long Farewell" by Victor Maes and Kate Voice (Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands)
- Special Jury Prize: "Less than 5gr Saffron" by Négar Motevalymanshah (France)
- Main Prize: "The Clouds Are Two Thousand Meters High" by Singing Chen and Shoping Lee (Taiwan)
