The 82nd Venice Film Festival wrapped up this weekend, closing with red carpets, standing ovations, and some surprising wins. From Jim Jarmusch’s quiet family saga snatching the Golden Lion to Benny Safdie taking home Best Director, here’s the complete breakdown of the night’s highlights.
Golden lion Glory: Jim Jarmusch Stuns With Father Mother Sister Brother
Against expectations, Jim Jarmusch’s “Father Mother Sister Brother” (MUBI) bagged the Golden Lion, the festival’s top honor. Known for his understated, soulful storytelling, Jarmusch looked stunned as he accepted the award, muttering a candid “Oh shit” onstage.
Acting Excellence: Toni Servillo & Xin Zhilei Shine
- Volpi Cup for Best Actor: Toni Servillo for Paolo Sorrentino’s La Grazia, the festival’s opening night film.
- Volpi Cup for Best Actress: Xin Zhilei for her role in Cai Shangjun’s The sun Rises on Us All.
Both wins celebrate performances rooted in emotional depth and cinematic grace.
Best Director: Benny Safdie’s Knockout Win
Benny Safdie took home the Silver lion for Best Director with The Smashing Machine (A24). The film, exploring the brutal world of MMA, has already generated buzz ahead of its U.S. release in October.
Stories That Matter: Grand Jury & Special Jury Prizes
- Grand Jury Prize: Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Voice of Hind Rajab, a moving drama set in Gaza, which tunisia has already chosen as its oscar submission.
- Special Jury Prize: Gianfranco Rosi’s Below the Clouds, applauded for its poetic realism.
Writing That Resonates: Best Screenplay
The award for Best Screenplay went to Valérie Donzelli and Gilles Marchand for À Pied d'œuvre, praised for its layered storytelling and originality.
Rising Talent: Luna Wedler Wins Young Actor Award
Swiss actress Luna Wedler was honored with the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor for Silent Friend. This marks her as one of Europe’s most promising new faces.
Audience Favorite: Calle Málaga Wins Armani beauty Award
Maryam Touzani’s heartfelt drama Calle Málaga captured the Audience Award, cementing its place as one of the festival’s crowd-pleasers.
Orizzonti Section: Bold, Global Cinema
Venice’s Orizzonti sidebar, known for spotlighting daring and experimental works, crowned several fresh voices:
- Best Film: On the Road (dir. David Pablos, Mexico)
- Best Director: Anuparna Roy, Songs of the Forgotten Trees
- Best Actress: Benedetta Porcaroli, The Kidnapping of Arabella
- Best Actor: Giacomo Covi, A Year of School
- Best Screenplay: Ana Cristina Barragán, Hiedra
- Best Short Film: Without Kelly (dir. Lovisa Sirén)
The Orizzonti Special Jury Prize went to Lost Land by Akio Fujimoto.
Classics & Debuts: Honoring Cinema’s Past and Future
- Best Debut Film: Short Summer (dir. Nastia Korki), winner of the Luigi De Laurentiis Award.
- Best Restored Film: Bashu, The Little Stranger (dir. Bahram Beyzaie).
- Best Documentary on Cinema: Mata Hari (Joe Beshenkovsky, james A. Smith).
Venice Immersive: Pushing Boundaries of Storytelling
- Grand Prize: The Clouds Are Two Thousand Meters Up (Singing Chen).
- Special Jury Prize: Less Than 5GR of Saffron (Négar Motevalymeidanshah).
- Achievement Prize: A Long Goodbye (Kate Voet, Victor Maes).
Final Word: A festival of Surprises
With Jarmusch’s understated masterpiece beating flashier contenders, Safdie’s bold directorial win, and global voices celebrated across sections, Venice 2025 proved once again why it remains the world’s most prestigious platform for serious cinema.
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