The 81st Venice Film Festival featured a less impactful lineup compared to prior years. Despite that, Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door, starring Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, won the prestigious Golden Lion for Best Film. Nicole Kidman also secured Best Actress for her bold performance in Babygirl. The jury, led by Isabelle Huppert, took considerable time during deliberations to reach these decisions.

Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door claims the top prize at Venice, with awards recognizing performances from Kathleen Chalfant and other standouts.

The 81st Venice Film Festival didn’t boast a lineup as strong as previous years, with some films underwhelming audiences. Nevertheless, the festival’s jury, chaired by Isabelle Huppert, included a diverse group of industry professionals, such as James Gray, Andrew Haigh, and Zhang Ziyi. The jury reportedly spent a lengthy time deliberating the top awards.

Speculation grew that after a series of American films winning in recent years, the jury may lean away from awarding yet another U.S.-led project. This rumor gained traction after Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist became an early favorite. Clocking in at over three hours, the Adrien Brody-starring drama was heralded by critics, but ultimately fell short of taking home the top prize.

Instead, the Golden Lion was awarded to Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door, a powerful drama that examines themes of mortality. The film received critical praise for its emotional depth, and the 17-minute standing ovation it garnered at its Venice premiere helped cement its victory. In his acceptance speech, Almodóvar spoke fondly of working with stars Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, while delivering his speech mostly in Spanish, noting that despite the film being in English, its essence remained rooted in Spanish culture.

Another standout at the festival was Maura Delpero’s Vermiglio, which won the Grand Jury Prize. The film was praised for its intimate portrayal of life in rural Italy, offering a fresh perspective on war without showing the direct conflicts. Isabelle Huppert herself shared her admiration for the film’s unique lens during the post-award press conference.

Déa Kulumbegashvili’s April won the Special Jury Prize, recognized for its portrayal of female identities and societal pressures. Its slow, deliberate pacing kept some audiences intrigued despite its challenging subject matter.

Walter Salles’ I’m Still Here, set against the backdrop of Brazil’s military dictatorship, won Best Screenplay. Jury president Huppert commended the film for subverting expectations and delivering an unpredictable narrative.

Nicole Kidman, although absent due to a family bereavement, won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress for her role in Babygirl, directed by Halina Reijn. The award was accepted on Kidman’s behalf by Reijn, who shared a heartfelt message from the actress. Kidman dedicated the award to her late mother in an emotional tribute that touched the festival audience.

Brady Corbet won Best Director for The Brutalist, and while accepting his award, expressed support for filmmakers fighting against large corporations for artistic control. His stirring speech highlighted the need for cinema to evolve into something more boundless and inclusive.

Sarah Friedland’s Familiar Touch was a major winner in the Horizons category, taking home three awards, including Best Director, Best Actress (for Kathleen Chalfant), and the Luigi de Laurentiis Award for Best Debut Feature. Friedland used her platform to speak out on political issues, showing how filmmakers can use their work to address global injustices.

Though the 81st Venice Film Festival may not have dazzled as much as in past years, the under-the-radar winners demonstrated that cinema remains in great shape, as Huppert proudly noted in her closing statement.

Winners List

Golden Lion for Best Film: The Room Next Door, Pedro Almodóvar

Grand Jury Prize: Vermiglio, Maura Delpero

Silver Lion for Best Director: Brady Corbet, The Brutalist

Special Jury Prize: April, Dea Kulumbegashvili

Best Screenplay: Murilo Hauser, Heitor Lorega, I’m Still Here

Volpi Cup for Best Actress: Nicole Kidman, Babygirl

Volpi Cup for Best Actor: Vincent Lindon, The Quiet Son

Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor: Paul Kircher, And Their Children After Them

Horizons Awards

Best Film: The New Year That Never Came, Bogdan Mureşanu

Best Director: Sarah Friedland, Familiar Touch

Special Jury Prize: One of Those Days When Hemme Dies, Murat Firatoglu

Best Actress: Kathleen Chalfant, Familiar Touch

Best Actor: Francesco Gheghi, Familia

Best Screenplay: Scandar Copti, Happy Holidays

Best Short Film: Who Loves the Sun, Arshia Shakiba

Lion of the Future

Luigi de Laurentiis Award for Best Debut Feature: Familiar Touch, Sarah Friedland

Venice Classics

Best Documentary on Cinema: Chain Reactions, Alexandre O. Philippe

Best Restored Film: Ecce Bombo, Nanni Moretti

Venice Immersive

Grand Jury Prize: Ito Meikyu, Boris Labbé

Special Jury Prize: Oto’s Planet, Gwenael François

Achievement Prize: Impulse: Playing With Reality, Barry Gene Murphy, May Abdalla

Sources: Venice Film Festival Winners

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