Jim Jarmusch’s film “Father Mother Sister Brother” took home the Golden Lion for best film at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on Saturday. The award was announced by a competition jury led by director Alexander Payne.
The film explores the lives of three different families, highlighting adult siblings and their parents. Jarmusch, who also wrote the film, said, “Art does not have to address politics directly to be political. It can create empathy and connection, which is the first step.” The filmmaker thanked audiences for embracing the “quiet” film, while one fan shouted, “We love you, Jim!”
The film presents three separate stories. In one, a brother (Adam Driver) and sister (Mayim Bialik) visit their aging father (Tom Waits). Another story follows two sisters (Cate Blanchett and Vicky Krieps) spending time with their novelist mother (Charlotte Rampling). The final story centers on twins (Indya Moore and Luka Sabbat) handling their late parents’ apartment.
The 21 films in competition reflected contemporary tensions and global issues. Kaouther Ben Hania’s docudrama, “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” depicts a Palestinian girl in a car under Israeli military fire. The film uses real emergency call recordings and won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize.
During the ceremony, several winners expressed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and spoke against war. Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters also gathered on the Lido, where the festival is held.
This year’s festival maintained its tradition of star-studded appearances. Celebrities included Julia Roberts, Emma Stone, Oscar Isaac, George Clooney, Willem Dafoe, Jude Law, Amanda Seyfried, Dwayne Johnson, Colman Domingo, Chloë Sevigny, Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri, Jesse Plemons, Emily Blunt, Lee Byung-hun, and Jacob Elordi.
The festival opened with Paolo Sorrentino’s tragicomedy “La Grazia,” which follows an Italian president nearing the end of his term. Other prominent films included “A House of Dynamite,” “Frankenstein,” “No Other Choice,” “Jay Kelly,” “The Wizard of the Kremlin,” “Dead Man’s Wire,” “After the Hunt,” “The Testament of Ann Lee,” “Cover-Up,” “In the Hand of Dante,” and “Bugonia.”
Benny Safdie won the Silver Lion for best director for “The Smashing Machine,” a portrait of mixed-martial-arts champion Mark Kerr. Gianfranco Rosi’s black-and-white film “Below the Clouds” received the Special Jury Prize.
The Volpi Cup for best actor was awarded to Toni Servillo for his role in “La Grazia.” The best actress award went to Xin Zhilei for “The Sun Rises on Us All.” Luna Wedler received the Marcello Mastroianni Award for her performance in Ildiko Enyedi’s “Silent Friend.”
Valérie Donzelli and Gilles Marchand won best screenplay for “At Work,” about a photographer turned writer struggling to survive.
The Lion of the Future prize for best debut feature went to “Short Summer,” directed by Nastia Korkia, following a child growing up in wartime Russia. In the Orizzonti section, David Pablos’ “On the Road” won the top award, telling the story of a drifter and a trucker forming a bond. Maryam Touzani’s “Calle Malaga” received the Armani Beauty Audience Award, with a standing ovation for Giorgio Armani, who passed away on September 4.
Lifetime achievement Golden Lions were awarded to Kim Novak, known for “Vertigo,” and Werner Herzog, whose documentary “Ghost Elephants” screened at the festival. Julian Schnabel received the Glory to the Filmmaker Award for “In the Hand of Dante,” and Gus Van Sant earned the Campari Passion for Film Award for directing “Dead Man’s Wire.”
The 82nd Venice International Film Festival highlighted exceptional filmmaking, international stories, and star-studded celebrations, with Jarmusch’s “Father Mother Sister Brother” emerging as the standout winner.
