Indian filmmaker Anuparna Roy has won Best Director award in the Orizzonti section at the 82nd Venice Film Festival. This section highlights new and indie films. Her film, Songs of Forgotten Trees, was the only Indian entry in this category and tells the story of two migrant women in Mumbai. The award was announced by Julia Ducournau, president of the Orizzonti jury.
Vetern U.S. director Jim Jarmusch won festival’s top honor, the Golden Lion for Best Film, for his movie Father Mother Sister Brother. The film explores family dynamics and generational tension, with scenes set in New Jersey, Dublin, and Paris. The Silver Lion runner-up award was given to The Voice of Hind Rajab, directed by Tunisia’s Kaouther Ben Hania. Based on a true story of a young Palestinian girl killed during the Gaza war.
Toni Servillo won Best Actor for his role as a weary president in Paolo Sorrentino’s Italian film La Grazia while the Best Actress award went to Chinese star Xin Zhilei for her performance in The Sun Rises On Us All. Benny Safdie was named Best Director in the main competition for The Smashing Machine. Italian director Gianfranco Rosi received a special jury prize for his black-and-white documentary Below the Clouds.
