“I feel like so often the discussion around the future of cinema ends up being a discussion that’s more commercial, more business oriented,” Moore said in her opening remarks on August 31. “When we talk about the future of cinema it often degrades into what the future of the business is. That’s not the future of art.” Established in 1932, Venice is the oldest ongoing cinematic awards celebration and is regarded among the world’s most esteemed international film festivals. 22 titles are in contention for this year’s Golden Lion — Venice’s prestigious top prize, awarded to Audrey Diwan’s searing abortion drama “Happening” in 2021 — with no clear frontrunner.
Adapted from Don DeLillo’s novel of the same name, Noah Baumbach’s “White Noise” marked Netflix’s first time opening the festival and struck IndieWire’s David Ehrlich as “equal parts inspired and exasperating.” Another adaption, one from playwright Samuel D. Hunter, Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale” garnered significant buzz thanks to star Brendan Fraser: a likely Best Actor recipient for his performance as a depressed 600-pound man. As for the Best Actress race: Ana de Armas stars as Marilyn Monroe in “Blonde,” Andrew Dominik’s underwhelming psychological drama that still sees a strong showing from the “Knives Out” scene-stealer. Meanwhile, Cate Blanchett anchors Todd Field’s TÁR as a world-famous classical composer and conductor in what Ehrlich called “one of the most exciting new American films in years.” Also in competition for top prizes are Alice Diop’s “Saint Omer,” Kōji Fukada’s “Love Life,” Rebecca Zlotowski’s “Other People’s Children,” Martin McDonagh’s “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Luca Guadagnino’s “Bones and All,” and more. Venice’s field, mirrored by stiff competition at both Telluride and Toronto, spells a muddled fight to the finish for this year’s Academy Awards’ Best Picture race. Other non-documentary films screened at Venice — out of competition — include Ti West’s “Pearl,” Olivia Wilde’s “Don’t Worry Darling,” Kim Ki-duk’s “Call of God,” and “Dead for a Dollar”: a film from this year’s Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker Award honoree Walter Hill. MAIN COMPETITION Best Young Actor:“Bones and All,” Taylor Russell Best Actor: Colin Farrell, “The Banshees of Inisherin” Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, “TÁR” Best Screenplay: “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Martin McDonagh
Special Jury Prize: “No Bears,” Jafar Panahi Silver Lion for Best Director: “Bones and All,” Luca Guadagnino Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize:“Saint Omer,” Alice Diop Golden Lion: “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed,” Laura Poitras HORIZONS Best Short Film: “Snow in September,” Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir Best Screenplay: “Blanquita,” Fernando Guzzoni Best Actor: “World War III,” Mohsen Tanabandeh Best Actress: “Vera,” Vera Gemma Special Jury Prize: “Bread and Salt,” Damian Kocur Best Director: “Vera,” Tizza Covi, Rainer Frimmel Best Film: “World War III,” Houman Seyyedi HORIZONS EXTRA Audience Award: “Nezouh,” Soudade Kaadan LION OF THE FUTURE Award for Best Debut Feature: “Saint Omer,” Alice Diop VENICE IMMMERSIVE Special Jury Prize: “Eggscape,” German Heller, Jorge Tereso, Federico Heller Grand Jury Prize: “From the Main Square,” Pedro Harres Best Immersive Experience: “The Man Who Couldn’t Leave,” Chen Singing VENICE CLASSICS Best Restored Film: “Branded to Kill,” Seijun Suzuki Best Documentary of Cinema: “Fragments of Paradise,” K.D. Davison VENICE DAYS (previously announced) Cinema of the Future Award: “The Maiden,” Graham Foy Director’s Award: “Wolf and Dog,” Cláudia Varejão People’s Choice Award: “Blue Jean,” Georgia Oakley CRITICS’ WEEK (previously announced) Grand Prize: “Eismayer,” David Wagner Special Mention: “Anhell69,” Theo Montoya Audience Award: “Margini,” Niccolò Falsetti Verona Film Club Award: “Anhell69,” Theo Montoya Mario Serandrei – Hotel Saturnia Award for Best Technical Contribution: “Anhell69,” Theo Montoya Best Short Film: “Puiet,” Lorenzo Fabbro and Bronte Stahl Best Director (Short Film): “Albertine Where Are You?,” Maria Guidone Best Technical Contribution (Short Film): “Reginetta,” Federico Russotto Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
