Venice Film Festival 2021: Celebrating the Winners and Honors of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival

September 7, 2025

Venice Film Festival 2025: ‘Father Mother Sister Brother’ Wins Golden Lion

Venice, Italy – The 82nd venice International Film Festival drew to a close Saturday with a glittering awards ceremony recognizing outstanding achievements in cinematic art. The coveted Golden lion for best Film was awarded to Jim Jarmusch’s “Father Mother Sister Brother,” a United States production.

Key Award Winners Announced

A distinguished jury, presided over by American director Alexander Payne, selected the winners from a competitive lineup of 21 films. Several other remarkable works were also honored during the ceremony.

Kaouther Ben Hania’s “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” a compelling work from Tunisia, received the Silver Lion Grand jury Prize. The Silver Lion for Best Director was presented to Benny Safdie for his direction of the United States film, “The Smashing Machine.”

In the acting categories, Xin Zhilei was recognized with the Volpi Cup for Best Actress for her performance in Cai Shangjun’s “The Sun Rises on Us All,” hailing from China. Italy’s own Toni Servillo took home the Volpi Cup for Best Actor for his role in Paolo Sorrentino’s “La Grazia.”

Recognizing Screenwriting and emerging Talent

Valerie Donzelli’s screenplay for the French film “A pied d’oeuvre” (“At Work”) earned the Award for Best Screenplay. A Special Jury Prize was also awarded to Gianfranco Rosi for his Italian film, “Sotto le Nuvole” (“Below the Clouds”).

The Marcello Mastroianni Award, celebrating promising new performers, was given to Luna Wedler for her work in Ildiko Enyedi’s swiss film, “Silent Friend.” This award highlights the festival’s commitment to fostering future generations of cinematic talent.

Award	Film	Filmmaker	Country
Golden Lion	Father Mother Sister Brother	Jim Jarmusch	United States
Silver Lion – Grand Jury prize	The Voice of Hind Rajab	Kaouther Ben Hania	Tunisia
Silver Lion – Best Director	The Smashing Machine	benny Safdie	United States
Volpi Cup – Best Actress	The Sun Rises on Us all	Cai Shangjun	China
Volpi Cup – best Actor	La Grazia	Paolo Sorrentino	Italy

Did You Know? The Venice film Festival is the oldest film festival in the world, founded in 1932 by Benito Mussolini. It remains one of the most prestigious and influential cinematic events globally.

Pro Tip: Keep an eye on award winners from major festivals like Venice. Thes films frequently enough gain significant momentum and recognition during awards season, including the Oscars.

The Venice Film Festival continues to be a crucial platform for launching films and careers, attracting filmmakers and audiences from around the globe. The festival’s influence extends beyond entertainment, serving as a cultural touchstone and a barometer of artistic trends.

What impact do you believe these awards will have on the careers of the winning filmmakers? And how will the recognition influence the distribution and viewership of these films?

The Enduring Legacy of the Venice Film Festival

The Venice Film Festival has a rich history of showcasing groundbreaking cinema and launching the careers of iconic filmmakers. From its early days under mussolini to its present-day prominence, the festival has consistently served as a vital space for artistic expression and industry networking. The festival has evolved over the decades, adapting to the changing landscape of filmmaking while maintaining its commitment to quality and innovation. The festival increasingly focuses on promoting diversity and inclusion within the film industry, providing opportunities for underrepresented voices and perspectives.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Venice Film Festival Awards

• What is the Golden Lion award? The Golden Lion is the highest prize awarded at the Venice Film Festival, recognizing the best film in competition.
• Who decides the winners at the Venice Film Festival? A jury of established filmmakers and industry professionals selects the award winners.
• What is the Volpi Cup? The Volpi Cup is awarded to the best actor and best actress at the Venice film Festival.
• Why is the venice Film Festival so important? It’s one of the oldest and most prestigious film festivals in the world, launching many successful films and filmmakers.
• Does winning at Venice guarantee Oscar success? While not a guarantee, winning at Venice frequently enough provides significant momentum for a film’s Oscar campaign.

Share your thoughts on the winners and the festival below!

What impact did winning the Golden Lion likely have on *The Father*’s prospects for the Academy Awards?

Golden Lion for Best Film: The Father

The 82nd Venice International Film Festival,a cornerstone of the venice Film Festival calendar and a prestigious event in the world of international film festivals,culminated in a moving victory for Florian Zeller’s The Father. Starring Anthony Hopkins and olivia Colman, this poignant drama exploring dementia resonated deeply with the jury and audiences alike. The Golden Lion, the festival’s highest honor, recognized the film’s masterful direction, compelling performances, and sensitive handling of a challenging subject. This win solidified The Father’s position as an early frontrunner in the upcoming awards season,including the Academy Awards.

Grand Jury Prize: Sundown

Lucía Garibaldi’s Sundown secured the Grand Jury Prize, a significant accolade recognizing exceptional cinematic achievement. This Argentinian-Chilean co-production offered a stark and compelling narrative, praised for its atmospheric cinematography and nuanced exploration of family dynamics. The Venice Film Festival consistently champions diverse voices, and Sundown exemplified this commitment.

Silver Lion – best Director: Jane Campion for The Power of the Dog

Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog earned her the Silver Lion for Best Director. This Western psychological drama, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, was lauded for Campion’s masterful control of tone and her ability to create a palpable sense of tension. The win highlighted Campion’s continued influence as a leading figure in contemporary cinema. Her direction was a key talking point throughout the Venice Film Festival.

Coppa Volpi for Best Actor: Colin Farrell for The Banshees of Inisherin

Colin Farrell delivered a career-defining performance in Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin, earning him the Coppa volpi for Best actor.His portrayal of Pádraic Súilleabháin, a man grappling with the abrupt end of a friendship, was both heartbreaking and darkly humorous. The Venice Film Festival provided a platform for Farrell to showcase his remarkable range and solidify his status as a leading actor.

Coppa Volpi for Best Actress: Marine Vacth for Happening

Marine Vacth’s powerful performance in Audrey Diwan’s Happening secured her the Coppa Volpi for Best Actress. The film, based on annie ernaux’s autobiographical novel, tackles the sensitive subject of illegal abortion in 1960s France with unflinching honesty.Vacth’s nuanced and emotionally resonant performance was widely praised by critics and audiences. The film sparked crucial conversations during the Venice Film Festival and beyond.

Special Jury Prize: La Civil

Teodora Ana Magion’s La Civil received a Special Jury Prize, acknowledging its powerful and timely exploration of the Mexican drug war and its impact on civilian lives. The film’s raw and unflinching portrayal of violence and resilience resonated with the jury.

Best Screenplay: Hamaguchi Ryusuke and Takamasa Oe for Drive My Car

Hamaguchi Ryusuke and Takamasa Oe were awarded Best Screenplay for Drive My Car, a Japanese drama based on a short story by Haruki Murakami. The screenplay was praised for its intricate structure, compelling characters, and thoughtful exploration of grief and connection. The film’s success at the Venice Film Festival helped to elevate Japanese cinema on the international stage.

Horizons Awards (Orizzonti)

The Orizzonti section, dedicated to new and innovative cinematic voices, also presented a range of awards:

Best Film: Essential Killing by Jerzy Skolimowski

best Director: Eric Gravel for À bout de souffle

Best Actor: Joshua Caleb Johnson for Burning

Best Actress: Valeria bruni Tedeschi for Les Amandiers

Special Jury Prize: Censor by Prano Bailey-Bond

Venice Classics awards

The Venice Classics section, celebrating restored films and cinematic heritage, awarded:

Best Restored film: The Night of the Hunter (1955)

Lion of the Future – Venice Debut Film Award

The Lion of the Future, recognizing the best debut feature film, was awarded to Imaculat by Antoine Barraud. This award highlights the Venice Film Festival’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent.

Impact of the 2021 Venice Film Festival on Award Season

The Venice Film Festival 2021 served as a crucial launching pad for several films that went on to achieve significant success during the awards season. The father‘s win at Venice propelled it to multiple Academy award nominations and wins, including Best Actor for Anthony Hopkins.The Power of the Dog also benefited from the festival’s spotlight, garnering critical acclaim and numerous awards nominations. The festival’s influence extends beyond the immediate awards, shaping the cinematic landscape and influencing critical discourse.

Benefits of Attending the Venice Film festival

Attending the Venice Film Festival offers numerous benefits for industry professionals and film enthusiasts:

Early Access to Award Contenders:* See potential award-winning films before anyone else.