Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door won the prestigious Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival, marking his English-language debut. Nicole Kidman received the Best Actress award for her role in Babygirl, though she missed the ceremony due to her mother’s passing. Other major winners included Brady Corbet for Best Director with The Brutalist and Vincent Lindon as Best Actor for The Quiet Son. The festival concluded with the premiere of Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2. This year’s event marked a return of A-list stars and glamorous fashion, reaffirming Venice’s status as a key platform for the upcoming awards season.
Quick Read
- Golden Lion Winner: Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door won the top prize at the Venice Film Festival.
- Best Actress: Nicole Kidman received the Best Actress award for her role in Babygirl, though she was absent due to her mother’s death.
- Best Director: Brady Corbet won Best Director for The Brutalist, a 215-minute post-war epic.
- Best Actor: Vincent Lindon won Best Actor for his role in The Quiet Son, where he plays a single father.
- Silver Lion Winner: Vermiglio, directed by Maura Delpero, won the Silver Lion award.
- Closing Film: The festival concluded with the premiere of Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2.
- Return of A-listers: Stars like George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Sigourney Weaver attended, marking a glamorous return of major celebrities after last year’s strike-affected event.
Almodóvar’s ‘The Room Next Door’ wins Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival
NEWSLOOKS – VENICE, Italy (AP) —
The Room Next Door, directed by Pedro Almodóvar and starring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton, took home the Golden Lion for Best Film at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday. The win marks a significant moment for Almodóvar, as this film is his first English-language project. Nicole Kidman was honored with the Best Actress award for her role as a CEO caught in a scandalous affair in Babygirl, though she was absent from the ceremony due to the recent passing of her mother. Her director, Halina Reijn, accepted the award on Kidman’s behalf, reading a heartfelt message from the actress, who dedicated the award to her late mother.
Other top honors included Brady Corbet, who won the Best Director prize for his 215-minute post-war drama The Brutalist, and Vincent Lindon, who earned Best Actor for his portrayal of a father in The Quiet Son. Maura Delpero’s Vermiglio, a story set during World War II, was awarded the Silver Lion. Almodóvar’s win followed a near 20-minute standing ovation for The Room Next Door, a film that explores themes of friendship and death. The Spanish filmmaker has long been a favorite at Venice, premiering many of his films over the years.
The festival also hosted the premiere of Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2, concluding the 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival, which featured several divisive films in competition. Jury president Isabelle Huppert expressed her optimism for the future of cinema during the closing ceremony, stating, “Cinema is in great shape.” The Luigi De Laurentiis award for Best Debut Film went to Sarah Friedland for Familiar Touch, a touching exploration of an elderly woman transitioning into assisted living.
Venice continues to be a key player in the international film festival circuit, often serving as a launching pad for films vying for major awards. With actors like Kidman, Craig, and Jolie garnering early Oscar buzz, the Venice Film Festival solidified its role in setting the stage for the upcoming awards season. This year’s festival was marked by the return of A-list stars and their red carpet fashion, with standout moments including Lady Gaga in a Christian Dior gown and Nicole Kidman in a Schiaparelli creation. After a more subdued event last year due to the strike, the festival regained its full glamorous luster in 2024.
