“I have great news for you: cinema is in great shape!” exclaimed Isabelle Huppert, president of the jury of the official competition, on Saturday evening, on the stage of the Sala Grande of the Palazzo del Cinema, before the winners of the 81st competition were announced.e Venice Film Festival closing ceremony hosted by Italian actress and model Sveva Alviti.
PHOTO ALBERTO PIZZOLI, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Isabelle Huppert and Pedro Almodóvar at the 81st Awards ceremonye Venice Film Festival
Succeeding Poor Thingsby Yorgos Lanthimos, The Room Next Doora magnificent reflection on death with Bergmanian overtones carried by the dazzling Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, won the most coveted prize at the Venice Film Festival, the Golden Lion for best film.
Pedro Almodóvar, who will soon be 75, warmly thanked his family, including his younger brother Agustín, who produces his films. “This is my first film in English, but the spirit is Spanish, so I will read a few words in my language,” announced the Madrid filmmaker, moved to tears, as he praised the talent and generosity of his actresses.
Italian director Maura Delpero won the Silver Lion — Grand Jury Prize for Vermiglioin which she tells the story of four seasons in the life of a family during World War II. Having written his speech at the request of his wife and co-writer Mona Fastvold so that he would not cry again, American Brady Corbet came to collect the Silver Lion for best director for The BrutalistThe director thanked the jury for taking the time to watch his 70mm film, which lasts 3 hours and 30 minutes.
For her part, Georgian filmmaker Dea Kulumbegashvili took home the Special Jury Prize for Aprilin which she portrays a gynecologist accused of illegally performing abortions. As for Brazilians Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega, they received the award for Best Screenplay for Ainda is here (I’m Still Here), by Walter Salles, where they focus on the victims of the dictatorship in Brazil in the 1970s.
Two French people at the honor
PHOTO MARCO BERTORELLO, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Vincent Lindon, winner of the Volpi Cup for best actor
Paul Kircher, a young sensation of French cinema, who notably distinguished himself in The high school student by Christophe Honoré and The animal kingdom by Thomas Cailley, received the Marcello-Mastroianni prize for best newcomer for Their children after thema moving social fresco by brothers Ludovic and Zhoran Boukherma, based on the novel by Nicolas Mathieu. Kircher praised “the fury of life and the passion” that the twins instilled in the entire team.
The excellent Vincent Lindon won the Volpi Cup for best actor for his role as a father raising his two sons alone in the sober and nuanced social drama by sisters Delphine and Muriel Coulin, Play with fire“It’s rare and chic for a French president to be generous with someone from his country,” he said before going to embrace Isabelle Huppert and the other members of the jury.
Having just lost her mother, Nicole Kidman was unable to collect the Volpi Cup for best actress for the erotic thriller Babygirl where she gives herself body and soul. It was therefore the Dutch director Halina Reijn who came to read the actress’s thanks, who dedicates her prize to her mother.
Expected for the Queer Lion, Queerby Luca Guadgnino, was beaten to the post on Friday by Alma del Desierto (Soul of the Desert), by Mónica Taboada-Tapia, presented in the Venice Days selection.
A short Quebecer in the prize list
PHOTO JACOPO SALVI, PROVIDED BY LA MOSTRA
Director Arshia Shakiba and producer Zaynê Akyol posing with the award for best short film in the Horizons section.
Finally, chaired by American director Debra Granik, the Horizons section jury awarded the prize for best short film to Who Loves the Suna documentary by Arshia Shakiba. Focusing on the ravages of war in Syria, the short film will have its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Thanks to this prize, Who Loves the Sun can compete for the Oscars in the Best Documentary Short Subject category. Along with the film’s producer, Zaynê Akyol (Land of roses, Rojek), the director spoke of “the privilege of being in such a beautiful place and the responsibility of telling these stories.”
To view the full list of winners of the 81e Venice Film Festival, go to the Biennale di Venezia website.