Jim Jarmusch Triumphs at Venice with Golden Lion Win

The 2025 Venice Film Festival wrapped up this weekend, with prizes announced Saturday evening (CET) across the main competition, Orizzonti, and other sections. Jim Jarmusch’s minimalist triptych Father Mother Sister Brother (MUBI) surprised many by taking home the Golden Lion over more high-profile contenders. “Oh shit,” Jarmusch exclaimed in shock as he accepted the award onstage.

The Volpi Cup for acting went to Toni Servillo for Paolo Sorrentino’s opening night entry La Grazia (MUBI) and Xin Zhilei for Cai Shangjun’s The Sun Rises on Us All. Benny Safdie earned Best Director for his upcoming A24 film The Smashing Machine, set for a U.S. release in October. The Grand Jury Prize went to Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania’s Gaza-set drama The Voice of Hind Rajab, which is also Tunisia’s Oscar submission for Best International Feature.

The main jury was led by Alexander Payne and included Cristian Mungiu, Mohammad Rasoulof, Stéphane Brizé, Maura Delpero, Fernanda Torres, and Zhao Tao. Competition entries featured new films from Park Chan-wook, Kathryn Bigelow, Mona Fastvold, Benny Safdie, Guillermo del Toro, Noah Baumbach, Jim Jarmusch, Yorgos Lanthimos, and others. On the red carpet ahead of the ceremony, several eventual winners—Servillo, Jarmusch, Ben Hania, and Safdie—were already present.

In the Orizzonti section, dedicated to innovative filmmaking, the jury was headed by Julia Ducournau, joined by Yuri Ancarani, Fernando Enrique Juan Lima, Shannon Murphy, and RaMell Ross. Notable entries included Mark Jenkin’s Rose of Nevada with Callum Turner and George MacKay, Kent Jones’ Late Fame starring Willem Dafoe and Greta Lee, Stillz’s Barrio Triste, Ali Asgari’s Divine Comedy, and Ana Cristina Barragan’s Hiedra.

The Orizzonti Best Film award went to David Pablos’ Mexican drama On the Road, while Best Director was awarded to Anuparna Roy for Songs of the Forgotten Trees. In her acceptance speech, Roy voiced support for Palestine.

The ceremony took place at the Sala Grande, with a live stream available for viewers. The full list of winners follows.

Golden Lion: “Father Mother Sister Brother” (dir. Jim Jarmusch)

Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize: “The Voice of Hind Rajab” (dir. Kaouther Ben Hania)

Silver Lion for Best Director: Benny Safdie, “The Smashing Machine”

Special Jury Prize: “Below the Clouds” (dir. Gianfranco Rosi)

Best Screenplay: “À Pied d’œuvre,” Valérie Donzelli and Gilles Marchand

Volpi Cup for Best Actress: Xin Zhilei, “The Sun Rises on Us All”

Volpi Cup for Best Actor: Toni Servillo, “La Grazia”

Marcello Mastroianni Best Young Actor Award: Luna Wedler, “Silent Friend”

Audience Award — Armani Beauty: “Calle Málaga” (dir. Maryam Touzani)

Orizzonti Best Film: “On the Road” (dir. David Pablos)

Orizzonti Best Director: Anuparna Roy, “Songs of the Forgotten Trees”

Orizzonti Special Jury Prize: “Lost Land” (dir. Akio Fujimoto)

Orizzonti Best Actress: Benedetta Porcaroli, “The Kidnapping of Arabella”

Orizzonti Best Actor: Giacomo Covi, “A Year of School”

Orizzonti Best Screenplay: “Hiedra” (Ana Cristina Barragán)

Orizzonti Best Short Film: “Without Kelly” (dir. Lovisa Sirén)

Lion of the Future — “Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award for a Debut Film: “Short Summer,” dir. Nastia Korki

Venice Classics — Best Documentary on Cinema: “Mata Hari” (dir. Joe Beshenkovsky, James A. Smith)

Venice Classics — Best Restored Film: “Bashu, The Little Stranger” (dir. Bahram Beyzaie)

Venice Immersive Grand Prize: “The Clouds Are Two Thousand Meters Up” (Singing Chen)

Venice Immersive Special Jury Prize: “Less Than 5GR of Saffron” (Négar Motevalymeidanshah)

Venice Immersive Achievement Prize: “A Long Goodbye” (Kate Voet, Victor Maes)