The Golden Lion of the 81st Venice International Film Festival went to Pedro Almodovar's “The Room Next Door”. The second most important award of the festival went to “Vermiglio” by Italian filmmaker Maura Delpero. Nicole Kidman, Vincent Lindon and Paul Kircher were awarded for their acting performances.
The 81st Venice International Film Festival has come to an end. The big winner was Pedro Almodovar's latest film, “The Room Next Door,” which won the Golden A lion. The legendary Spaniard's 23rd feature is also his English-language debut. For the first time, Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore appear in the lead roles for the legendary filmmaker.
“Ingrid and Martha were friends in their youth, they worked together in the same editorial office of one of the magazines. Ingrid became a writer, Martha – a war correspondent. Over time, life circumstances separated them. After years of no contact, they meet again in an extreme but strangely sweet situation” – we read in the description of the film posted on the festival website.
“In the production of 'The Room Next Door,' Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore carry the weight of the entire film on their shoulders and are spectacular. I was very lucky because each of them gives a spectacular recital. There were moments during the shooting that my crew and I held back tears as we watched them on the set,” Almodovar said in a director's statement.
“The Room Next Door” is Almodovar's third film to be in Venice's Main Competition. He first had a chance at the Golden Lion with the now-iconic film “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” in 1988. In 2021, “Parallel Mothers” was in the competition. This makes the Golden Lion the Spaniard's first competitive award. Outside of the competition, in 2019 he was honored with the Golden Lion for lifetime achievement.
Venice 2024. List of winners in the Main Competition
- Golden Lion – “In the room next door”
- Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize – “Vermiglio” directed by Maura Delpero
- Silver Lion for Best Director – “The Brutalist” directed by Brady Corbet
- Award for best screenplay – Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega (“Ainda Estou Aqui” directed by Walter Salles)
- Volpi Cup for Best Actress – Nicole Kidman (“Babygirl” directed by Halina Reijn)
- Volpi Cup for Best Actor – Vincent Lindon (“Jouer Avec le Feu” directed by Delphine and Muriel Coulin)
- Special Jury Prize – “April” directed by Dea Kulumbegashvili
- Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor – Paul Kircher (“Leurs enfants après eux” directed by Ludovic and Zoran Boukherm)
Main image source: PAP/EPA/ETTORE FERRARI