The 78th annual Venice Film Festival recently concluded with one of the most exciting awards ceremonies in the festival’s history. Whether you wanted to see anentertainment industry satireor amedieval drama, the chances that Venice screened the film for you were high. In both the main competition and the Horizons Sidebar sections, jury presidentBong Joon-hoselected the best of an already stacked lineup of films.
Perhaps most surprising is how female directors were awarded the highest honors, with the prestigious Golden Lion going to French-Lebanese directorAudrey Diwan’sHappening.The film, based on the 2000 novel by Annie Ernaux, centers around the young Anne (Anamaria Vartolomei) who finds herself seeking an abortion.
Best Director also went toJane Campionfor her work on Netflix’s upcomingThe Power of the Dog.Maggie Gyllenhaalalso won Best Screenplay for her directorial debutThe Lost Daughter. Other notable wins includePaolo Sorrentino’sThe Hand of Godwinning the Grand Jury Prize,John Arcillawinning Best Actor forOn The Job: The Missing 8, andPenelope Cruzwinning Best Actress forParallel Mothers.
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Do you want to see what other films and programs won big? Check the full list of Venice Film Festival winners below.
Golden Lion for Best Film
Happening, dir.Audrey Diwan
Grand Jury Prize
The Hand of God, dir.Paolo Sorrentino
Best Director
Jane Campion,The Power of the Dog
Best Actor
John Arcilla,On The Job: The Missing 8
Best Actress
Penelope Cruz,Parallel Mothers
Best Screenplay
Maggie Gyllenhaal,The Lost Daughter
Best Young Actor
Filippo Scotti,The Hand of God
Special Jury Prize
Il Buco, dir.Michelangelo Frammartino
Lion of the Future for Best Debut Film
Imaculat, dirs.Monica StanandGeorge Chiper-Lillemark
Horizons Sidebar
Pilgrims, dir.Laurynas Bareisa
Eric Gravel,Full Time
The Great Movementdir.Kiro Russo
Piseth Chhun,White Building
Laure Calamy,Full Time
Peter KerekesandIvan Ostrochovsky,107 Mothers
Best Short Film
Los huesos, dirs.Cristobal Leon,Joaquin Cocina
Audience Award Presented By Armani Beauty
The Blind Man Who Didn’t Want to See Titanic, dir.Teemu Nikki
Venice VR Expanded
Best VR Story
End of Night, dir.David Adler
Best VR Experience
Le bal de Paris, dir.Blanca Lee
Best VR Work
Goliath Playing with Reality, dirs.Barry Gene Murphy,May Abdalla
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