The 81st Venice Film Festival drew to a close on Saturday, with Pedro Almodóvar’s “The Room Next Door” taking home the coveted Golden Lion award. The English-language debut, starring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton, received a nearly 20-minute standing ovation after its premiere, solidifying its place as a festival favorite.
Almodóvar, a longtime Venice staple, dedicated the award to his family, noting that while the film is his first in English, its spirit remains distinctly Spanish. The Spanish filmmaker has premiered many of his films at the festival over the past four decades, and his win was met with widespread acclaim.
Nicole Kidman was awarded the best actress prize for her raw and exposing portrayal of a CEO embroiled in an affair with an intern in “Babygirl.” However, she was not present to accept the award, having recently lost her mother. In a statement read by “Babygirl” director Halina Reijn, Kidman expressed her gratitude and shock, dedicating the award to her mother’s memory.
The festival’s top directing prize went to Brady Corbet for his 215-minute post-war epic “The Brutalist,” which tells the story of an architect and a Holocaust survivor rebuilding their lives in America. Corbet, who came prepared with a written statement, joked about the film’s length, thanking the jury for not holding it against him.
The Silver Lion award, the festival’s runner-up prize, was awarded to Maura Delpero’s “Vermiglio,” an Italian-French-Belgian drama set during the final year of World War II.
Vincent Lindon took home the best actor prize for his lead performance in “The Quiet Son,” a film about a single father whose son becomes radicalized by the far right.
The Venice Film Festival has long been a launching pad for awards campaigns, and this year’s edition was no exception.
With several high-profile films in competition, including Todd Phillips’ “Joker: Folie à Deux” and Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer,” buzz is already building around potential Oscar contenders.
The festival’s reputation as a major player in the international film scene was cemented, with many A-list stars in attendance, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Cate Blanchett.
