The Venice Film Festival 2025 concluded with a surprise victory, as US independent director Jim Jarmusch won the prestigious Golden Lion for his film, Father Mother Sister Brother. The three-part movie, which explores family relationships, was not a top contender for the award. The runner-up, or Silver Lion, went to Kaouther Ben Hania for The Voice of Hind Rajab, a powerful documentary about a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed during the Gaza war.
Other Notable Winners and Standouts
- Best Actor was awarded to Toni Servillo for his role in the Italian film La Grazia.
- Best Actress was won by China’s Xin Zhilei for her performance in The Sun Rises On Us All.
- Best Director went to Benny Safdie for The Smashing Machine.
- The Special Jury Award was given to Gianfranco Rosi for his black-and-white documentary, Below the Clouds.
A Politically Charged Festival
This year’s festival was notably more political than in the past, with several impactful films focusing on current events. The Voice of Hind Rajab received a 24-minute standing ovation, highlighting the strong emotional response to its subject matter. Meanwhile, several highly anticipated films from major directors, including Kathryn Bigelow and Guillermo del Toro, went home empty-handed.
