The 82nd Venice Film Festival closed with a surprise: American director Jim Jarmusch won the Golden Lion for Father Mother Sister Brother.

Known for his understated, poetic style, Jarmusch said he felt “deeply moved” by the honor, adding that he arrived with “a small, quiet film” and never expected such recognition.

Jarmusch’s award-winning film interweaves three family stories, balancing humor and melancholy. Critics hailed it as one of the most human and affecting works of this year’s competition.

Ben Hania Moves Venice with Powerful Speech

Many observers expected Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania to take the Golden Lion for The Voice of Hind Rajab. Instead, the jury honored her with the Grand Jury Prize. The film revisits the tragedy of six-year-old Hind Rajab, who died in Gaza in 2024.

Accepting the award, Ben Hania delivered the evening’s most emotional moment: “Cinema cannot bring Hind back, but it can preserve her voice and carry it beyond borders,” she declared, before calling for justice and adding: “Free Palestine!”

Lanthimos Leaves Venice Without a Prize

For the first time since Dogtooth (2009), Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos left a major festival empty-handed.

Many expected his latest work, Bugonia, to earn the screenplay award. Instead the jury recognized Valérie Donzelli and co-writer Gilles Marchand for À pied d’œuvre.

A Highly Competitive Selection Process

The Venice Film Festival received 4,580 submissions this year, including 1,936 feature-length films. Each filmmaker paid a €200 ($234) entry fee, hoping for a coveted slot. Out of these, only 21 films premiered in competition—just over 1% of the total.

The festival also showcased 30 world premieres out of competition, 19 films in the Orizzonti section, and 18 restored classics in Venice Classics.

Greek-American director Alexander Payne chaired the main competition jury. He worked alongside Fernanda Torres, Mohammad Rasoulof, Stéphane Brizé, Maura Delpero, Cristian Mungiu, and Zhao Tao to decide this year’s winners.

A Festival of Risk and Urgency

The 82nd Venice Film Festival highlighted cinema’s ability to balance intimate storytelling with urgent political realities.

From Jarmusch’s quiet meditation on family ties to Ben Hania’s searing testimony of ongoing conflict, Venice reaffirmed its role as a stage where artistry and relevance converge.