Venice Film Festival: Golden Lion for US director Jim Jarmusch

Venice. US director Jim Jarmusch has been awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for his film "Father Mother Sister Brother," the jury announced.

The film explores the complex relationships between adult children and their parents—and the often-uncommunicative relationship that often arises—in three episodes. Cate Blanchett, Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Charlotte Rampling, and Vicky Krieps are among the cast.

Jarmusch (72) relies on subtle observations and recurring motifs in the film. Gestures, glances, and pauses in "Father Mother Sister Brother" reveal more about the relationships between the family members than words could.

The American is one of the most famous contemporary auteur filmmakers (“Night on Earth,” “Only Lovers Left Alive”).

The film festival's second most important award, the Grand Jury Prize, went to "The Voice of Hind Rajab" by Kaouther Ben Hania. In it, the Tunisian filmmaker recounts the final moments in the life of Hind Rajab, a Palestinian girl in the Gaza Strip. She died in January 2024 while her family was fleeing Gaza. The film, as well as several independent investigations, suggest that Hind Rajab and members of her family were killed by Israeli forces.

The Israeli military denies carrying out the attack and stated that no troops were present at the time. The film, which does not address the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, as the trigger for the war, was produced by Brad Pitt and Joaquin Phoenix, among others.

The Silver Lion for Best Director went to American Benny Safdie for his wrestling drama “The Smashing Machine” with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt.

Other awards went to: Chinese actress Xin Zhilei for her role in Cai Shangjun's "The Sun Rises On Us All" (Best Actress), Italian actor Toni Servillo for his role in Paolo Sorrentino's "La Grazia" (Best Actor) and French actors Valérie Donzelli and Gilles Marchand for Best Screenplay with "À pied d'œuvre".

The Special Jury Prize went to Italian Gianfranco Rosi for his Naples documentary "Sotto le nuvole." Swiss actress Luna Wedler received the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actress for her role in Ildikó Enyedi's "Silent Friend."

The 82nd Venice Film Festival, which began on August 27, is considered one of the most important in the world, alongside the Cannes Film Festival. In this year's competition, 21 films competed for the main prizes.

The awards were presented by an international jury chaired by US director Alexander Payne.

• Golden Lion for Best Film: “Father Mother Sister Brother” by Jim Jarmusch.
• Grand Jury Prize: “The Voice of Hind Rajab” by Kaouther Ben Hania.
• Silver Lion for Best Director: Benny Safdie for “The Smashing Machine.”
• Special Jury Prize: Gianfranco Rosi for “Sotto le nuvole”
• Award for Best Screenplay: Valérie Donzelli and Gilles Marchand for “À pied d'œuvre”.
• Best Actress Award: Xin Zhilei for her role in Cai Shangjun’s “The Sun Rises On Us All.”
• Award for Best Actor: Toni Servillo for his role in “La Grazia” by Paolo Sorrentino.
• Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor: Luna Wedler for her role in “Silent Friend” by Ildikó Enyedi.

RND/dpa