78th Venice Film Festival Award Winners

Many times we tend to forget that festival awards are given by juries who (mostly) are not exposed to media during the fest duration and/or to audience reactions to films in competition. So, if you follow fest via social media there was not a consensus on what awards should go to which film, actors, directors or screenplayers. Still, there were strong buzz generated to certain actress who finally didn't got the Copa Volpi nor film got recognition from festival or Italian industry members, those who give the collateral awards. Sigh.

Awards ceremony went smoothly directly to give awards, which is highly appreciated and yes, as they started to come I suspected that those leaders among the collateral awards were going to get top recognition. Last observation is true but also helped those that were called back to Venice and walked the red carpet (lol). To the point, awards ceremony was not boring which is a huge achievement.

No doubt 2021 will be remembered as the year the three major cinema festivals in the world gave top awards to "unconventional" movies as there is NO doubt Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn by Radu Jude (Berlinale winner), Titane by Julia Ducournau (Cannes winner) and Happening by Audrey Diwan (Venice winner) are not representatives of main stream cinema and even, according to many film critics, belong to not one specific clear genre.

But more important and interesting is the fact that for the first time ever top award at Cannes and Venice go to two young female Frencg directors and both films are director's second feature film. Most are claiming is just a coincidence and hopes should not be raise to consider that circunstantes are changing for female directors; but, I hope many men in the industry stop behaving as if only male human beings are worthy of recognizion in cinema honors. Sigh.

Can't avoid mentioning tht in 78 years of Venice Festivals this is the first time a Copa Volpi goes to a Spanish actress! Couldn't believe it, as found info when looking if Penelope Cruz had won the cup before and surprise, surprise, NO she didn't, as well as any other Spaniard actress.

To answer someone who asks for my opinion regarding the awards, well, I'm glad la Mostra went back to honor non-American cinema as believe top three film festival should honor World cinema and much less what already has lots of resources (money) behind them. Be sure that unless there is a HUGE miracle, the Golden Lion winner will not win the Best Picture Oscar, perhaps if France sends it (probably not) then could get the International Feature Film nomination.

Congratularion to French cinema as this year newcomers are being highly honored and hope when is time to be honored by the French industry, they also recognize female filmmakers as worthy of high honors in cinema. Sigh.

The Award Winners

Official Selection

Competition

Golden Lion for Best Film:  L'événement (Happening), Audrey Diwan, France



Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize:  E Stata la Mano di Dio (The Hand of God), Paolo Sorrentino, Italy
Special Jury Prize:  l Buco (The Hole), Michelangelo Frammartino, Italy, France and Germany

Silver Lion for Best Director: Jane Campion for The Power of the Dog, Jane Campion, New Zealand and Australia

Copa Volpi for Best Actress: Penélope Cruz in Madres Paralelas (Parallel Mothers), Pedro Almodóvar, Spain
Copa Volpi for Best Actor: John Arcilla in On the Job: The Missing 8, Erik Matti, Philippines
Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actress or Actor:  Filippo Scotti in E Stata la Mano di Dio (The Hand of God), Paolo Sorrentino, Italy

Best Screenplay: Maggie Gyllenhaal for The Lost Daughter, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Greece, USA, UK and Israel

Lion of the Future - Luigi de Laurentiis Award for Best Debut Film:  Imaculat (Immaculate), Monica Stan and George Chiper-Lillemark, Romania

Orizzonti Awards
Best Film:  Piligrimai (Pilgrims), Laurynas Bareiša, Lithuania
Special Jury Prize:  El Gran Movimiento, Kiro Russo, Bolivia, France, Qatar, and Switzerland
Best Director: Éric Gravel for À plein temps, Éric Gravel, France
Best Actress:  Laure Calamy in À plein temps, Éric Gravel, France
Best Actor:  Piseth Chhun in Bodeng Sar (White Building), Kavich Neang, Cambodia, France, China, and Qatar
Best Screenplay: Peter Kerekes and Ivan Ostrochovský for Cenzorka (107 Mothers), Peter Kerekes, Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, and Ukraine  (documentary)

Best Short Film:  Los Huesos, Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña, Chile, 14' (animation)
Short Film nominee for the European Film Awards:  Fall of the Ibis King, Josh O'Caoimh and Mikai Geronimo, Ireland, 10' (animation)

Orizzonti Extra Best Film Audience Award:  Sokea mies, joka ei halunnut nähdä Titanicia (The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic), Teemu Nikki, Finland

Virtual Reality
Best VR Immersive Work Award: Goliath: Playing With Reality, Barry Gene Murphy and May Abdalla, UK and France
Best VR Immersive User Experience Award: Le bal de Paris de Bianca Li, Blanca Li, France, Germany and Luxembourg
Best VR Immerisve Story Award:  End of Night, David Adler, Denmark and France

Autonomous Sections

17th Giornate degli Autori
Director's Award: Imaculat (Immaculate), Monica Stan and George Chiper-Lillemark, Romania
Special Mention: Shen Kong, Chen Guan, Macau
Label Europa Cinemas: Californie, Alessandro Cassigoli and Casey Kauffman, Italy
People's Choice Award: Deserto Particular, Aly Muritiba, Brazil and Portugal

36. Settimana Internazionalle della Critica (Venice International Film Critics' Week)
Grand Prize: زالاوا Zalava, Arsalan Amiri, Iran
Verona Film Club Award: Eltörölni Frankot (Erasing Frank), Gábor Fabricius, Hungary
Mario Serandrei Award: Eles Transportant a Morte (They Carry Death), Helena Girón and Samuel M. Delgado, Spain and Colombia

Short Films Awards
Best Short Film: Inchei, Federico Demattè, Italy, 16'
Award for Best Director:  Federico Demattè for Inchei, Italy, 16'
Award for Best Artistic Contribution: l'incanto (Enchantment), Chiara Caterina, Italy, 19'

Collateral Awards

FIPRESCI Awards
Best Film of Venezia78: L'événement (Happening), Audrey Diwan, France
Best Film in Settimana: زالاوا Zalava, Arsalan Amiri, Iran

SIGNIS Award: Un Autre Monde, Stéphane Brizé, France
Special Mention: E Stata la Mano di Dio (The Hand of God), Paolo Sorrentino, Italy

ArcaCinema Giovani Award
Best Film Venezia78: L'événement (Happening), Audrey Diwan, France
Best Italian Film: E Stata la Mano di Dio (The Hand of God), Paolo Sorrentino, Italy

Authors Under 40 Awards
Best Director: (tie)
Katrina Kranisqi for Vera Andrron Detin (Vera Dreams of the Sea), Kaltrina Kranisqi, Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia
Katerina Selenkina for Obkhodniye puti (Detours), Ekaterina Selenkina, Russia and Netherlands
Best Scriptwriter: Monica Stan for Imaculat (Immaculate), Monica Stan and George Chiper-Lillemark, Romania

Fanheart3 Awards
Grafetta d'Oro: Freaks Out, Gabriele Mainetti, Italy and Belgium
Nave d'Argento: Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon, Ana Lily Amirpour, USA
Special Mention: Old Henry, Potsy Ponciroli, USA
VF Fan Experience: Knot A Trilogy, Glen Neath and David Rosemberg, UK

FEDIC Award: Il Buco (The Hole), Michelangelo Frammartino, Italy, France and Germany
Special Mention: La Ragazza ha volato, Wilma Labate, Italy and Slovenia
Special Mention Short Film: Notte Romana (Roman Nights), Valerio Ferrara, Italia, 12'

Fondazione Fai Persona Lavoro Ambiente Award: El Gran Movimiento, Kiro Russo, Bolivia, France, Qatar, and Switzerland
Special Mention Work: 7 Prisioneiros, Alexandre Moratto, Brazil  and  À plein temps, Éric Gravel, France
Special Mention Environment: Costa Brava, Lebanon, Mounia Akl, Lebanon, France, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Qatar

Fondazione Mimmo Rotella Award: Mario Martone and Toni Servillo for Qui rido io, Mario Martone, Italy
Fondazione Smithers Ambassador of Hope Award: Life of Crime 1984-2020, Jon Alpert, USA

Francesco Pasinetti Awards - SNGGI
Best Film:  E Stata la Mano di Dio (The Hand of God), Paolo Sorrentino, Italy
Best Actress: Teresa Saponangelo in E Stata la Mano di Dio (The Hand of God), Paolo Sorrentino, Italy
Best Actor:  Toni Servillo in E Stata la Mano di Dio (The Hand of God), Paolo Sorrentino, Italy
Special Award: Freaks Out, Gabriele Mainetti, Italy and Belgium

Fair Play Award:  l Buco (The Hole), Michelangelo Frammartino, Italy, France and Germany
Special Mention:  The Card Counter, Paul Schrader, USA, UK, and China

Green Drop Award: Il Buco (The Hole), Michelangelo Frammartino, Italy, France and Germany

Nuovo Imaie Talent Award
Best Newcomer Actress: Aurora Giovinazzo in Freaks Out, Gabriele Mainetti, Italy and Belgium
Best Newcomer Actor: Filippo Scotti in E Stata la Mano di Dio (The Hand of God), Paolo Sorrentino, Italy

Premio Rodolfo Sonego: Non se po’ scappà, Gianluca Santoni, Italy

Sorriso Diverso Award
Best Italian Film: Freaks Out, Gabriele Mainetti, Italy and Belgium
Best Foreign Film: 7 Prisoners, Alexandre Moratto, Brazil
Il viaggio turismo Enit: Ezio Bosso. Le cose che restano, Giorgio Verdelli, Italy

Soundtrack Stars Award
Lifetime Achievement Award: Ornella Vanoni
Best Soundtrack in Venezia78: Freaks Out, Gabriele Mainetti, Italy and Belgium
Special Mention: Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon, Ana Lily Amirpour, USA

Brian Award: L'événement (Happening), Audrey Diwan, France
Casa Wabi - Mantarraya Award:  Imaculat (Immaculate), Monica Stan and George Chiper-Lillemark, Romania
Cinema for UNICEF 2021: La Caja (The Box), Lorenzo Vigas, Mexico and USA

Edipo Re Award: (tie)
Al Garib (The Stranger), Ameer Fakher Eldin, Syria, Germany, Palestine and Qatar
Vera Andrron Detin (Vera Dreams of the Sea), Kaltrina Krasniqi, Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia

Enrico Fulghignoni-CICT-UNESCO Award: Amira, Mohamed Diab, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, and Saudi Arabia
Fred Award: Alba Rohrwahcher
Interfilm Award : Amira, Mohamed Diab, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, and Saudi Arabia
Lanterna Magica Award: Amira, Mohamed Diab, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, and Saudi Arabia
Leoncino d'Oro Agiscuola Award: Freaks Out, Gabriele Mainetti, Italy and Belgium
Lizzani Award: Freaks Out, Gabriele Mainetti, Italy and Belgium
Queer Lion Award: La Dernière Séance (The Last Chapter), Gianluca Matarrese, Italy and France (documentary)
Sfera 1932 Award: La Caja (The Box), Lorenzo Vigas, Mexico and USA
UNIMED Award: E Stata la Mano di Dio (The Hand of God), Paolo Sorrentino, Italy

La Pellicola d'Oro Award
Best Visual Effects Technician: Maurizio Corridori in Freaks Out, Gabriele Mainetti, Italy and Belgium
Best Camera Operator: Luca Massa for Il Buco (The Hole), Michelangelo Frammartino, Italy, France and Germany
Best Gaffer:  Loris Fellici for Freaks Out, Gabriele Mainetti, Italy and Belgium
Best Dressmaker: Cineteatrale Tirelli for Qui rido io, Mario Martone, Italy

Premio Carlo U. Rossi Cinema e Musica:
RB Casting Award: Aurora Giovinazzo for Freaks Out, Gabriele Mainetti, Italy and Belgium

Starlight International Cinema Award: Lupo Bianco, Tony Gangitano, Italy

New Generation Awards
Best Female Newcomer: Ludovica Francesconi
Best Male Newcomer: Giancarlo Commare

Final Cut In Venice (post-production awards)
Hanging Gardens, Ahmed Yassin Al daradji, Iraq, Palestine and UK
Taht El Karmouss (Under the Fig Trees), Erige Sehiri, Tunisia, Qatar, Switzerland and France
The Mother of All Lies, Asmae El Moudir, Morocco, Germany and Qatar
Nous, etudiants! (We Students), Rafiki Fariala, Central African Republic, France, Democratic Republic of Congo and Italy

Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement: Jamie Lee Curtis
Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement: Roberto Benigni
Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker Award: Ridley Scott
Premio Robert Bresson: Alice Rohrwacher
Campari Passion for Film Award:  Marcus Rowland

To check the Autonomous and Collateral award winners at official site go here.