78th Venice Film Festival: The Winners
The award ceremony of the Venice Biennale 2021 International Film Festival saw many emotions. From the final speech of the Godmother, Serena Rossi to the delivery of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement for Roberto Benigni. The Coppa Volpi goes to Penélope Cruz and John Arcilla while Italian cinema wins with the signature of Paolo Sorrentino.
AFP
Serena Rossi dedicated her closing speech "to the eyes, to the looks that have finally returned home: to Cinema. Even if spaced out and with a lot of attention we have been next to each other.” She, then, continued with these words:
"They were incredible days because the Festival was incredible: so many people from all over the world to meet, to discuss cinema with passion. The halls were always full, from morning to night.” Visibly moved, the Neapolitan actress thanked those who wanted her at the helm of this edition, namely Roberto Cicutto (President of the Venice Biennale) and Alberto Barbera (President of the Venice Film Festival) but also her team, her family, her partner Davide Devenuto and their little Diego.
The 78th edition was successful in spite of the security protocols because of the persistence of Covid-19. It was a success on three fronts: the safety and health measures, the international quality of the film selection, and the satisfaction of the participants. The only regret for many was the plexiglass wall between the exhibition and the public but hopefully next year, it will be possible to remove this transparent wall.
The films in competition will be in the major Italian cinemas and soon the public will be able to decide its winners but the Academy of Venezia78 has given its verdicts. Let's discover them together.
Leone d'Oro
Venice Film Festival 2021, the winners:
Golden Lion: L'ÉVÉNEMENT by Audrey Diwan.
Coppa Volpi for Best Actress: Penélope Cruz in MADRES PARALELAS by Pedro Almodóvar. Coppa Volpi for Best Actor: John Arcilla in ON THE JOB: THE MISSING 8 by Erik Matti. Silver Lion- Grand Jury Prize: È STATA LA MANO DI DIO by Paolo Sorrentino.
Silver Lion - Best Director Award: Jane Campion for THE POWER OF THE DOG.
Marcello Mastroianni Award to a young emerging actor: Filippo Scotti in È STATA LA MANO DI DIO by Paolo Sorrentino.
Best Screenplay Award: Maggie Gyllenhaal for THE LOST DAUGHTER.
Special Jury Prize: IL BUCO by Michelangelo Frammartino.
Armani beauty Viewers Award: THE BLIND MAN WHO DID NOT WANT TO SEE TITANIC by Teemu Nikki.
Best VR Story: END OF NIGHT by David Adler.
Best VR Experience: LE BAL DE PARIS by Blanca Li.
Grand Jury Prize for Best VR Feature: GOLIATH: PLAYING WITH REALITY by Barry Gene Murphy, May Abdalla.
Leone del Futuro - Premio Venezia Opera Prima "Luigi De Laurentiis": IMACULAT by Monica Stan, George Chiper-Lillemark.
Horizons Award for Best Short Film: LOS HUESOS by Cristóbal León, Joaquín Cociña.
Horizons Award for Best Screenplay: Peter Kerekes, Ivan Ostrochovský for 107 MOTHERS by Peter Kerekes.
Horizons Award for Best Actor: Piseth Chhun in WHITE BUILDING by Kavich Neang.
Horizons Award for Best Actress: Laure Calamy in À PLEIN TEMPS by Éric Gravel.
Horizons Award for Best Director: Éric Gravel for À PLEIN TEMPS.
Horizons Award for Best Film: PILGRIMS by Laurynas Bareiša.
Special Horizons Jury Prize: EL GRAN MOVIMIENTO by Kiro Russo.
The 78. Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica is organized by the Biennale di Venezia; it was held at the Lido di Venezia from September 1 to 11, 2021. The Festival is officially recognized by the FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers' Associations).
The Exhibition aims to promote the knowledge and diffusion of international cinema in all its forms of art, entertainment and industry, in a spirit of freedom and dialogue. One section is dedicated to the valorization of restoration operations of classic films in order to contribute to a better knowledge of the history of cinema, in particular for the benefit of young audiences.
Official selection here.