Almodóvar‍‍`s ‍‍`The Room Next Door‍‍` Wins Venice Golden Lion

Pedro Almodóvar's English-language debut, The Room Next Door, starring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton, won the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday.

Nicole Kidman, recognized as Best Actress for her raw performance as a CEO involved in an affair in Babygirl, was absent from the event due to the recent passing of her mother, Janelle Ann Kidman. In a statement read by Babygirl director Halina Reijn, Kidman expressed her shock and dedicated the award to her late mother, acknowledging her profound influence on her life.

The festival concluded its 81st edition with major accolades, including Brady Corbet receiving Best Director for his 215-minute epic The Brutalist and Vincent Lindon winning Best Actor for his role in The Quiet Son, in which he portrays a father grappling with his son's radicalization.

Maura Delpero's Vermiglio, a war drama set during the final year of WWII, took home the Silver Lion award. Almodóvar's win followed a lengthy ovation as the filmmaker dedicated the honour to his family, noting that his first English-language film carried a Spanish spirit.

Brady Corbet, whose film The Brutalist explores the life of an architect and Holocaust survivor in post-war America, expressed his gratitude in a speech prepared by his filmmaker wife.

The festival also featured the world premiere of Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 as the closing film, outside the competition. The 21 films in the competition sparked debate, with notable entries including Joker: Folie à Deux, Maria by Pablo Larraín starring Angelina Jolie, and Luca Guadagnino’s Queer with Daniel Craig.

Isabelle Huppert, head of the jury, expressed optimism for the future of cinema, proclaiming, "Cinema is in great shape." Venice has cemented itself as a launchpad for awards season, with possible Oscar buzz for Kidman, Jolie, Craig, and Lady Gaga.

The event drew top stars like George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Winona Ryder, making a glamorous return to Venice. Red-carpet moments from celebrities, including Lady Gaga in Christian Dior and Nicole Kidman in Schiaparelli, have dazzled the crowd, marking a return to form for the festival after the previous year’s challenges.

• বিষয়:
• venice
• film
• festival