Saturday, September 11, 2021

WOMEN RULED AT VENICE FILM FESTIVAL 2021

By José Alberto Hermosillo

With a landslide of awards, women auteurs took the hefty prizes of Venice Film Festival 2021. 

Jury’s President Bong Joon-ho (“Parasite”) announced that by unanimous decision, the Golden Lion award went to the French woman director Andrey Diwan for her well-crafted and controversial film “Happening/L'événement.” The film is set in 1963, tackles the story of a woman going through an abortion experience in France while the procedure was still illegal. 

Golden Lion winner film “Happening/ L'événement.

Best Director award went to Jane Campion, the first female director who won Best Picture or Palme d’Or in Cannes for “The Piano,” in 1992. In her speech, Campion mentioned her gratitude to the people of New Zealand for helping under challenging times during the pandemic in the making of the highly praised “The Power of the Dog.” The modern Western is a strong candidate to be nominated for Best Picture for the Oscars, 2022.

The Copa Volpi for Best Actress went to Penélope Crúz for “Parallel Mothers/Madres paralelas.” This film marks Crúz's most recent collaboration with Pedro Almodovar. The story of two single mothers giving birth ignites the dialogue on motherhood, women’s repression during the Spanish dictatorship, and above all, survival.

Another big revelation of the night was the distinction to the American actress/writer/director Maggie Gyllenhaal (“Crazy Heart,” “The Dark Knight,”), who won for Best Screenplay for her film “The Lost Daughter.”


In the parallel section, Orizzonti Awards, women took center stage, winning the top prize Laurvnas Bareisa for the film “Pilgrims.” The suspenseful movie made in Lithuania talks about two women witnessing a gruesome crime. 

Roberto Benigni wins the Lifetime Achievement at Venice 2021

The Lifetime Achievement went to the legendary Italian performer, writer, and director Roberto Benigni, who won an Oscar for “Life is Beautiful.” He also worked in both of the live-action Italian versions of "Pinocchio." In 2002, he directed and played Pinocchio, and in 2019, directed by Matteo Garrone, Benigni is Geppetto.

Many of these award-winning films can capitalize their prizes in an early campaign running for the Oscars 2022 .

THE VENICE FILM FESTIVAL 2021 AWARDS:


Golden Lion for Best Film: “Happening,” Audrey Diwan

Grand Jury Prize: “The Hand of God,” Paolo Sorrentino

Best Director: “The Power of the Dog,” Jane Campion

Best Actress: “Parallel Mothers,” Penélope Cruz

Best Actor: “On the Job: The Missing 8,” John Arcilla

Best Screenplay: “The Lost Daughter,” Maggie Gyllenhaal

Special Jury Prize: “Il Buco,” Michelangelo Frammartino

 

Marcello Mastroianni Award, Best Young Actor: “The Hand of God,” Filippo Scotti.


ORIZZONTI AWARDS

 


Best Film: “Pilgrims/Il paradiso del pavone,” Laurynas Bareisa

Best Director: “Full Time,” Eric Gravel

Special Jury Prize: “El Gran Movimiento,” Kiro Russo

Best Actress: “Full Time,” Laure Calamy

Best Actor: “White Building,” Piseth Chhun

Best Screenplay: “107 Mothers,” Ivan Ostrochovský, Peter Kerekes

Best Short Film: “Los Huesos,” Cristóbal León, Joaquín Cociña

 

Best actor, Piseth Chhun, "White Building," Cambodia

LUIGI DE LAURENTIIS AWARD

Best First Feature: “Imaculat,” Monica Stan, George Chiper-Lillemark

 

VENICE VR EXPANDED AWARDS

Grand Jury Prize for Best VR Work: “Goliath: Playing With Reality,” Barry Gene Murphy, May Abdalla

Best VR Experience: “Le Bal de Paris de Blanca Li,” Blanca Li
Best VR Story: 
“End of Night,” David Adler

 

Armani Beauty Audience Award: “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic,” by Teemu Nikki.

Penelope Cruz winning Best Actress at Venice 2021

Paolo Sorrentino Jury Prize winner, Venice Film Festival, THE HAND OF GOD/È stata la mano di Dio. Film critic Jose Alberto Hermosillo www.FestivalinLA.com.
 
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