Il Golden Lion of the 79th Venice International Film Festival is the American film All the Beauty and the Bloodshed by Laura Poitras, the story of internationally acclaimed artist and activist Nan Goldin and her battle for recognition of the Sackler family's responsibility for drug overdose deaths. Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize to the French film Saint Omer by Alice Diop (also Premio Venezia Opera Prima), the story of a migrant accused of killing her daughter by abandoning her on a beach in northern France. Silver Lion for Best Director to the film by Luca Guadagnino Bones and All, also Mastroianni Award for the best emerging actress Taylor Russel. It tells the journey on the road of two young anthropophagous lovers in Ronald Reagan's America.
Coppa Volpi for Best Actress in a Leading Role to Cate Blanchett in the film TAR by Todd Field. Best Actor Colin Farrell in The Banshees of Inisher, film that also won the award for best screenplay. A long applause greeted the Special Jury Award assigned to Khers Nist (Bears don't exist) by Iranian director Jafar Panahi in prison since last July. Two prizes from the Horizons section (best actress and director) to the film Edge. This film tells about Vera, daughter of actor Giuliano Gemma.
It was Julianne Moore, president of the jury, who announced the awards of the 2022 edition of the Festival, which this year celebrated its 90th anniversary with a beautiful exhibition in the Venice venue of the Ca 'Giustinian Biennale. But it was as always the Lido and its Palazzo del Cinema, with the whole citadel dedicated to the Festival, the main venue of theevent that has been confirmed one of the most important and prestigious in the cinema universe.
A Film Festival strongly linked to the present
Marked by a return to normalcy and growing success, the Mostra del Cinema 2022 has been able to intercept different audiences and attract many stars to the Lido. Divas and divine on the red carpet at will, but also and above all quality films. Confirmed by critics and audiences who participated in the screenings in many sold out cases. And to the events that for ten days animated the citadel of cinema. Five Italian films in competition for one festival characterized by themes strongly linked to current events. The main threads of the exhibition are the difficulties and contradictions of intense but often extremely problematic family relationships.
Controversial issues such as those of gender diversity. But also films linked to the contingencies and criticalities of the present. Like the war and the persecutions of filmmakers who are currently persecuted. And the news, which during the Festival saw the death of Queen Elizabeth honored on the day of his death with the English national anthem God Save The Queen after the usual parade of stars on the red carpet. The film is dedicated to Queen Elizabeth II The Queen which in 2006 was presented at the 63rd Venice Film Festival. On that occasion the protagonist Helen Mirren had received the Coppa Volpi Award for the best female interpretation.
The award of the Italian Film Journalists to Stefania Sandrelli
In these days of the Festival, Italian cinematography has seen a tribute to Stefania Sandrelli to which the Pietro Bianchi Award 2022, recognition of film journalists, traditionally assigned to the Lido, to a personality of our cinema and this year in its 45th edition. In the Venezia Classici section, Francesco Zippel's docufilm was presented Sergio Leone. The Italian who invented America. Un important tribute to Sergio Leone, one of the Italian legends of world cinema, on the occasion of the recent thirtieth anniversary of his death.
Closing, after the delivery of the Lions, with an Italian / English film screened Out of Competition. The Hanging Sun by Francesco Carrozzini, protagonist Alessandro Borghi. Norwegian noir drama based on the bestseller Midnight Sun by Jo Nesbo. The curtain has fallen on the 79th Venice Film Festival, which will take place on 30 August 2023.
(photo credits: La Biennale di Venezia)
