Venice Film Festival has kicked off with first prizes announced in the Orizzonti sidebar, Immersive Competition and Venice Classics.
In the Orizzonti section, Best Film went to Ann Sirot and Raphaël Balboni’s Diana in the Loop about a young woman who decides to avenge the rape of her mother, which took place three years before she was born.
Other notable prizes in the sidebar included Best Actress for Laleh Marzban for her brave hijab-less performance in Iranian drama Falling House as a young woman whose dreams of pursuing a modelling career outside of Iran are thwarted by a tyrannical prison guard father.
She dedicated the prize to all the women of Iran declaring in Farsi that the country was going through one of the most painful and difficult times of its history. “I want to mention the people of my homeland, Iran, who are living under the greatest pressure ever; I would like to dedicate this award to the women of my country, who have paid the highest price for even the smallest form of freedom. Today more than ever, they continue to carry forward their dreams, their courage, and their hope,” she said.
Italian actor Riccardo Scamarcio won Best Actor for his performance in The House of the Monkey as a the father devoted of a disabled son, who becomes increasingly close to his teenage nephew seeing in him the son he always wished for.
Scarmarcio dedicated his prize to all the fathers in the world as well as UK producer Jeremy Thomas whose death at the age of 77 was announced earlier in the day.
Tonight’s ceremony, hosted by Italian actors Greta Scarano and Nicolas Maupas, ends a politically charged 83rd edition with a record-breaking ovation for bombshell Israeli documentary Naza and a warm response to Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem in Bunker among the many highlights.
Other highlights included Lifetime Achievement Golden Lion Awards for George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn.
Maggie Gyllenhaal and her jury will mete out eight prizes including the Golden Lion for best film. The winners of the Orizzonti sidebar, Venice Classics and Immersive competition, the Lion of the Future – Luigi De Laurentiis Award for a Debut Film, will also be announced this evening.
Silver Lion Grand Jury PrizeSilver Lion Best Director
Special Jury PrizeBest ScreenplayBest ActorBest ActressMarcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actor or ActressLion of the Future – Luigi De Laurentiis Award for a Debut FilmHORIZONSBest FilmDiane in the LoopDirs. Ann Sirot, Raphaël BalboniBest DirectorJacqueline Lentzou (A day in the life of Jo: Chapter Phaedra)Special Jury PrizeHouse of the WindDir. Auguste Bernard Kouemo YanghuBest Actor(The Children of the Monkey)Best ActressLaleh Marzban (Falling House)Best ScreenplayThe Children of the MonkeyCowriters. Tommaso Landucci, Damiano FemfertBest Short FilmQuelques instants de bonheurDir. Shaden Safieddine Tazi
VENICE CLASSICSBest Restored FilmLong Night In ’43Dir. Florestano VanciniVENICE IMMERSIVE
Grand PrizeThe Pigeon RingDirs: Yuqi Zhang, Shixin Tao
Special Jury PrizeOut of the AshesDirs: Rory Mitchell and Nonny de la Peña
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