The 82nd Venice Film Festival brought cinema together with empathy and political awareness. Jim Jarmusch won the Golden Lion, while Kaouther Ben Hania’s Gaza drama The Voice of Hind Rajab became the festival’s most talked-about film.
The festival unfolded in an atmosphere that highlighted not only cinematic artistry but also political sensitivity. Throughout the event, pro-Palestine demonstrations reverberated both inside the festival grounds and across the streets of Venice, resonating in screenings and the awards ceremony alike.
Among the winners, Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother, which focuses on the lives of three different families, received the Golden Lion, while Benny Safdie’s radical experiment in empathy within the world of sports, The Smashing Machine, earned the Silver Lion. The festival’s most-discussed work was Kaouther Ben Hania’s Gaza-set drama The Voice of Hind Rajab, which won the Grand Jury Prize. Based on true events, the film drew a prolonged standing ovation and chants of “Free Palestine.”
Photo: Earl Gibson.
Jarmusch, appearing on stage in his iconic sunglasses and a burgundy suit, emphasized that cinema is about more than competition. Safdie, in his acceptance speech, noted that empathy was at the heart of his film, showering praise on lead actor Dwayne Johnson.
Italian cinema also shone brightly: Toni Servillo won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor for his performance in Paolo Sorrentino’s La Grazia, while Gianfranco Rosi received the Special Jury Prize for his Vesuvian documentary Below the Clouds.
Photo: Earl Gibson.
From Gaza to Venice: A Child’s Story
Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Voice of Hind Rajab marked one of the festival’s most powerful moments. At its world premiere, the film was met with a standing ovation that lasted approximately 23 minutes and 50 seconds.
The story recounts the killing of six-year-old Hind Rajab, her cousins, and two paramedics who tried to save them, by Israeli forces. Ben Hania’s moving speech at the premiere struck a deep chord:
“Hind’s voice was a cry the world could hear, but no one answered. Cinema cannot bring her back, but it can keep her voice alive.”
Hollywood figures including Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, and Alfonso Cuarón attended the premiere in solidarity. The film has also been chosen as Tunisia’s official Oscar submission, further cementing its international significance.
Full List of Winners
Competition
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Golden Lion (Best Film): Father Mother Sister Brother, Jim Jarmusch
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Grand Jury Prize: The Voice of Hind Rajab, Kaouther Ben Hania
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Silver Lion (Best Director): Benny Safdie, The Smashing Machine
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Special Jury Prize: Below the Clouds, Gianfranco Rosi
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Best Screenplay: Valérie Donzelli and Gilles Marchand, À pied d’œuvre (At Work)
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Volpi Cup for Best Actress: Xin Zhilei, The Sun Rises on Us All
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Volpi Cup for Best Actor: Toni Servillo, La Grazia
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Marcello Mastroianni Award (Best Young Actor): Luna Wedler, Silent Friend
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Armani Beauty Audience Award: Calle Malaga, Maryam Touzani
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Luigi De Laurentiis Award (Best Debut Film): Short Summer, Nastia Korkia
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Best Screenplay: Hiedra (The Ivy), Ana Cristina Barragán
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Best Short Film: Without Kelly, Lovisa Sirén
Venice Classics
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Best Documentary on Cinema: Mata Hari, Joe Beshenkovsky & James A. Smith
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Best Restored Film: Bashu, the Little Stranger, Bahram Beizai
Venice Immersive
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Grand Prize: The Clouds Are Two Thousand Meters Up, Singing Chen
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Special Jury Prize: Less Than 5gr of Saffron, Négar Motevalymeidanshah
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Achievement Award: A Long Goodbye, Kate Voet & Victor Maes
