The 82nd Venice International Film Festival wrapped up on Saturday, September 6, 2025, with a surprise win that set the tone for a season where art and politics collided both on and off the screen. Jim Jarmusch, the celebrated U.S. independent filmmaker known for his offbeat, low-budget classics, took home the coveted Golden Lion for his latest work, "Father Mother Sister Brother." It was an unexpected honor, even for Jarmusch himself, who graciously thanked the festival for appreciating his "quiet film."
Jarmusch’s film, which marks his first entry in Venice’s main competition, is a nuanced, three-part meditation on the uneasy ties that bind parents and their adult children. Set in New Jersey, Dublin, and Paris, the anthology weaves together the stories of siblings and their distant parents, using subtle gestures and silences to sketch the generational awkwardness that can beset even the closest families. The ensemble cast is a veritable who’s who of contemporary cinema, featuring Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Mayim Bialik, Charlotte Rampling, Cate Blanchett, Vicky Krieps, Indya Moore, and Luka Sabbat. Each segment gently drifts through domestic encounters where, on the surface, not much happens—yet the emotional undercurrents are unmistakable.
In his acceptance speech, the 72-year-old director reflected on the power of art to foster empathy and connection. "Art does not have to address politics directly to be political," Jarmusch said, according to Reuters. "It can engender empathy and a connection between us, which is really the first step." He also expressed his gratitude for the appreciation of "our quiet film," adding, "All of us here who make films, we're not motivated by competition. But this is something I truly appreciate, this unexpected honour."
Jarmusch’s win was by no means a foregone conclusion. Many critics and festivalgoers had tipped Kaouther Ben Hania’s "The Voice of Hind Rajab" as the likely frontrunner for the Golden Lion. The Tunisian director’s harrowing docudrama recounts the true story of a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed during the Gaza war, using real audio from her desperate calls to the Palestine Red Crescent Society as her family’s car came under Israeli military fire. The film struck a powerful chord with audiences, earning a record 24-minute standing ovation at its premiere and ultimately securing the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize—the festival’s second-highest honor.
Ben Hania’s acceptance speech was both poignant and defiant. "Cinema cannot bring Hind back, nor can it erase the atrocity committed against her. Nothing can ever restore what was taken, but cinema can preserve her voice, make it resonate across borders," she said, as reported by BBC. "Her voice will continue to echo until accountability is real, until justice is served." The film’s resonance was amplified by the involvement of high-profile executive producers Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Jonathan Glazer, and Alfonso Cuaron, who joined after editing was completed.
The festival’s atmosphere was charged with political tension, reflecting the ongoing Israeli invasion of Gaza. Prize winners, including Italian actor Toni Servillo, used their time on stage to voice support for Palestinians in Gaza and to speak out against the horrors of war. Servillo, who won the Volpi Cup for best actor for his portrayal of a weary president nearing the end of his mandate in Paolo Sorrentino’s "La Grazia," expressed his "admiration" for activists on a flotilla of boats bound for Palestine, saying they "have decided to set sail with courage to reach Palestine and to bring a sign of humanity to a land where human dignity is daily and cruelly demeaned." Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters also gathered on the Lido, the island that hosts the festival, underscoring the event’s unusually political climate.
Other major awards reflected the festival’s commitment to both artistic excellence and social relevance. Chinese actress Xin Zhilei took home the best actress prize for her role in Cai Shangjun’s "The Sun Rises on Us All," a drama set in Guangzhou’s sweatshops that explores themes of sacrifice, guilt, and unresolved feelings between estranged lovers. Benny Safdie won best director for "The Smashing Machine," a biopic of mixed-martial-arts champion Mark Kerr starring Dwayne Johnson. The special jury prize was awarded to Italian filmmaker Gianfranco Rosi for his black-and-white documentary "Below the Clouds," a lyrical look at life in Naples amid earthquakes and the looming threat of volcanic eruptions.
The best screenplay award went to Valérie Donzelli and Gilles Marchand for "At Work," a French drama about a successful photographer who gives up everything to pursue writing, only to find herself mired in poverty. Luna Wedler was recognized with the Marcello Mastroianni Award for outstanding emerging actor for her role in Ildiko Enyedi’s "Silent Friend." The Lion of the Future prize for best debut feature was given to "Short Summer," directed by Nastia Korkia, a coming-of-age story set in wartime Russia.
The festival’s opening film, Paolo Sorrentino’s "La Grazia," set the stage for a star-studded lineup that included appearances by Julia Roberts, Emma Stone, Oscar Isaac, George Clooney, and many others. Lifetime achievement awards were presented to Kim Novak, the iconic star of "Vertigo," and Werner Herzog, whose new documentary "Ghost Elephants" screened at the festival. Giorgio Armani, who passed away on September 4, 2025, was honored with a standing ovation before the Armani Beauty Audience Award was presented to Maryam Touzani’s "Calle Malaga."
Despite the festival’s glamour and prestige, some high-profile contenders left empty-handed. Netflix’s trio of big-budget entries—Kathryn Bigelow’s "A House of Dynamite," Guillermo del Toro’s "Frankenstein," and Noah Baumbach’s "Jay Kelly"—failed to secure any prizes, a reminder that critical acclaim and buzz do not always guarantee awards success at Venice.
The main competition jury was chaired by U.S. director Alexander Payne and included filmmakers Stéphane Brizé, Maura Delpero, Cristian Mungiu, Mohammad Rasoulof, and actresses Fernanda Torres and Zhao Tao. Their selections this year underscored Venice’s evolving role: once considered the most glamorous and least political of the major film festivals, the 2025 edition proved that cinema’s ability to reflect and shape the world remains as vital as ever.
As the first major stop in the annual awards season, Venice continues to set the stage for Oscar hopefuls and international recognition. With more than 90 Oscar nominations and nearly 20 wins for films that premiered here over the past four years, the festival’s influence on the global film landscape is undeniable. This year, though, it was the festival’s willingness to confront difficult truths—both on the screen and in the streets—that left the deepest impression.
In a year when the world’s eyes were on Venice, the festival offered a poignant reminder: sometimes, the quietest films and the most personal stories can speak volumes about the times in which we live.
