# 78th Venice International Film Festival

The 78th annual Venice International Film Festival was held from 1 to 11 September 2021.
South Korean director Bong Joon-ho was the Jury President of the main competition, marking the first time a South Korean director has been picked as the festival's top juror. Serena Rossi hosted the opening and closing nights. The Golden Lion was awarded to Happening directed by Audrey Diwan.

## Juries
### Main Competition (Venezia 78)

* Bong Joon-ho, South Korean filmmaker - Jury President
* Saverio Costanzo, Italian filmmaker
* Virginie Efira, Belgian actress
* Cynthia Erivo, British actress and singer
* Sarah Gadon, Canadian actress
* Alexander Nanau, Romanian-German director
* Chloé Zhao, Chinese-American filmmaker

### Horizons

* Jasmila Žbanić, Bosnian filmmaker and producer - Jury President
* Mona Fastvold, Norwegian filmmaker and actress
* Shahram Mokri, Iranian filmmaker
* Josh Siegel, director of the cinema department of MoMA
* Nadia Terranova, Italian novelist

### Luigi De Laurentis Award for a Debut Film

* Uberto Pasolini, Italian director and producer - Jury President
* Martin Schweighofer, Austrian film critic
* Amalia Ulman, Argentine visual artist

## Official Sections
### In Competition

The following films were selected for the main international competition:
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country |
| America Latina | America Latina | Damiano D'Innocenzo and Fabio D'Innocenzo | Italy |
| Another World | Un autre monde | Stéphane Brizé | France |
| The Box | La caja | Lorenzo Vigas | Mexico, United States |
| Captain Volkonogov Escaped | Капитан Волконогов бежал | Aleksey Chupov and Natalya Merkulova | Russia |
| The Card Counter | The Card Counter | Paul Schrader | United States |
| Freaks Out | Freaks Out | Gabriele Mainetti | Italy, Belgium |
| The Hand of God | È stata la mano di Dio | Paolo Sorrentino | Italy |
| Happening | L'Événement | Audrey Diwan | France |
| Il buco | Il buco | Michelangelo Frammartino | Italy, France, Germany |
| Leave No Traces | Żeby nie było śladów | Jan P. Matuszyński | Poland, France, Czech Republic |
| The Lost Daughter | The Lost Daughter | Maggie Gyllenhaal | United States, Greece |
| Lost Illusions | Illusions perdues | Xavier Giannoli | France |
| Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon | Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon | Ana Lily Amirpour | United States |
| Official Competition | Competencia oficial | Gastón Duprat and Mariano Cohn | Spain |
| On the Job: The Missing 8 | On the Job: The Missing 8 | Erik Matti | Philippines |
| Parallel Mothers (opening film) | Madres paralelas | Pedro Almodóvar | Spain |
| The Power of the Dog | The Power of the Dog | Jane Campion | United Kingdom, Australia, United States, Canada, New Zealand |
| The King of Laughter | Qui rido io | Mario Martone | Italy, Spain |
| Reflection | Відблиск | Valentyn Vasyanovych | Ukraine |
| Spencer | Spencer | Pablo Larraín | United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Chile |
| Sundown | Sundown | Michel Franco | Mexico, France, Sweden |
    Highlighted title indicates Golden Lion winner.

### Out of Competition

The following films were selected to be screened out of competition:
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country |
| Fiction ||||
| The Accusation | Les Choses Humaines | Yvan Attal | France |
| The Catholic School | La scuola cattolica | Stefano Mordini | Italy |
| Dune | Dune | Denis Villeneuve | United States |
| Halloween Kills | Halloween Kills | David Gordon Green | United States |
| The Hidden Child | Il bambino nascosto (closing film) | Roberto Andò | Italy, France |
| The Inner Cage | Ariaferma | Leonardo Di Costanzo | Italy, Switzerland |
| The Last Duel | The Last Duel | Ridley Scott | United Kingdom, United States |
| Last Night in Soho | Last Night in Soho | Edgar Wright | United Kingdom |
| Old Henry | Old Henry | Potsy Ponciroli | United States |
| Non Fiction ||||
| Becoming Led Zeppelin | Becoming Led Zeppelin | Bernard MacMahon | United States |
| Deandré#Deandré Storio di un Impiegato | Deandré#Deandré Storio di un Impiegato | Roberta Lena | Italy |
| Django & Django | Django & Django | Luca Rea | Italy |
| Ennio | Ennio | Giuseppe Tornatore | Italy, Belgium, Japan, Holland |
| Ezio Bosso: Le cose che restano | Ezio Bosso: Le cose che restano | Giorgio Verdelli | Italy |
| Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song | Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song | Daniel Geller and Dayna Goldfine | United States |
| Life of Crime 1984-2020 | Life of Crime 1984-2020 | Jon Alpert | United States |
| Republic of Silence | Republic of Silence | Diana El Jeiroudi | France, Germany, Syria |
| Tranchées [uk] | Tranchées [uk] | Loup Bureau | France |
| Viaggio Nel Crepuscolo | Viaggio Nel Crepuscolo | Augusto Contento | France, Italy |
| Series ||||
| Scenes from a Marriage (5 episodes) | Scenes from a Marriage (5 episodes) | Hagai Levi | United States |
| Short Films ||||
| The Night | 良夜不能留 | Tsai Ming-liang | Taiwan |
| Plastic Semiotic | Plastic Semiotic | Radu Jude | Romania |
| Sad Film | Sad Film | Vasili | Myanmar, Netherlands |

### Horizons (Orizzonti)

The following films were selected for the Horizons (Italian: Orizzonti) section:
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country |
| Atlantide | Atlantide | Yuri Ancarani | Italy, France, United States, Qatar |
| Miracle | Miracol | Bogdan George Apetri | Romania, Czech Republic, Latvia |
| Pilgrims | Piligrimai | Laurynas Bareiša | Lithuania |
| The Peacock's Paradise | Il Paradiso del Pavone | Laura Bispuri | Italy, Germany |
| The Falls | 瀑布 | Mong-hong Chung | Taiwan |
| The Hole in the Fence | El hoyo en la cerca | Joaquín del Paso | Mexico, Poland |
| Amira | أميرة | Mohamed Diab | Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia |
| Full Time | À Plein Temps | Éric Gravel | France |
| 107 Mothers | Cenzorka | Peter Kerekes | Slovakia, Czech Republic, Ukraine |
| Vera Dreams of the Sea | Vera Andrron Detin | Kaltrina Krasniqi | Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia |
| Promises | Les Promesses | Thomas Kruithof | France |
| White Building | Bodeng Sar | Kavich Neang | Cambodia, France, China, Qatar |
| Anatomy of Time | Wela | Jakrawal Nilthamrong | Thailand, France, Netherlands, Singapore, Germany |
| The Other Tom | El otro Tom | Rodrigo Plá | Mexico, United States |
| The Great Movement | El Gran Movimiento | Kiro Russo | Bolivia, France, Qatar, Switzerland |
| Once Upon a Time in Calcutta | Once Upon a Time in Calcutta | Aditya Vikram Sengupta | India, France, Norway |
| Rhino | Носоріг | Oleh Sentsov | Ukraine, Poland, Germany |
| True Things | True Things | Harry Wootliff | United Kingdom |
| Inu-Oh | 犬王 | Masaaki Yuasa | Japan |
Highlighted title indicates Orizzonti award winner.

### Horizons Extra (Orizzonti Extra)

The following films were selected to the Orizzonti Extra section:
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country |
| 7 Prisoners | 7 Prisioneiros | Alexandre Moratto | Brasil |
| The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic | Sokea mies, joka ei halunnut nähdä Titanicia | Teemu Nikki | Finland |
| Costa Brava, Lebanon | كوستا برافا، لبنان | Mounia Akl | Lebanon, France, Qatar, Spain, Sweden |
| The Girl Flew | La ragazza ha volato | Wilma Labate | Italy, Slovenia |
| Land Of Dreams | Land Of Dreams | Shirin Neshat, Shoja Azari | United States, Germany, Qatar |
| La macchina delle immagini di Alfredo C. | La macchina delle immagini di Alfredo C. | Roland Sejko | Italy |
| Mama, I'm Home | Мама, я дома | Vladimir Bitokov | Russia |
| My Night | Ma Nuit | Antoinette Boulat | France, Belgium |
Highlighted title indicates Orizzonti Extra award winner.

### Biennale College - Cinema

The following films were selected for the Biennale College - Cinema section.
| English Title | Original Title | Director(s) | Production Country |
| Al Oriente | Al Oriente | José María Avilés | Ecuador |
| Blessed Boys | La Santa Piccola | Silvia Brunelli | |
| The Cathedral | The Cathedral | Ricky D'Ambrose | United States |
| Lavrynthos (VR) | Lavrynthos (VR) | Fabito Rychter and Amir Admoni | Brazil, Peru |
| Our Father, the Devil | Our Father, the Devil | Ellie Foumbi | United States, France |
| Our Happiest Days | Nuestros Días Más Felices | Sol Berruezo Pichon-Rivière | Argentine Italy |
| La Tana | La Tana | Beatrice Baldacci | Italy |

## Independent Sections
### Venice International Critics' Week

The lineup of films selected for the 36th Venice International Critics' Week is as follows:
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country |
| In Competition ||||
| They Carry Death | Eles transportan a morte | Samuel M. Delgado, Helena Girón | Spain, Colombia |
| Erasing Frank | Eltörölni Frankot | Gábor Fabricius | Hungary |
| Mondocane | Mondocane | Alessandro Celli | Italy |
| Mother Lode | Mother Lode | Matteo Tortone | France, Italy, Switzerland |
| Detours | Obchodnye puti | Ekaterina Selenkina | Russia |
| The Salamander | A salamandra | Alex Carvalho | Brazil, France, Germany |
| Zalava | Zalava | Arsalan Amiri | Iran |
| Out of Competition ||||
| Karmalink (opening film) | Karmalink (opening film) | Jake Wachtel | Cambodia, United States |
| The Last Chapter (closing film) | La Dernière Séance | Gianluca Matarrese | Italy, France |

### Giornate degli Autori

The following films were selected for the Giornate degli Autori (aka Venice Days) section:
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country |
| In Competition ||||
| Anatomy | Anatomia | Ola Jankowska | Poland, France |
| Californie | Californie | Alessandro Cassigoli, Casey Kauffman | Italy |
| Private Desert | Deserto Particular | Aly Muritiba | Brazil, Portugal |
| Madeleine Collins | Madeleine Collins | Antoine Barraud | France, Belgium, Switzerland |
| The Stranger | Al-Ḡarīb | Ameer Fakher Eldin | Syria, Germany, Palestine, Qatar |
| Immaculate | Imaculat | Monica Stan, George Chiper-Lillemark | Romania |
| Dusk Stone | Piedra noche | Iván Fund | Argentina, Chile, Spain |
| Shen Kong | Shen Kong | Chen Guan | China |
| Out of Sync | Tres | Juanjo Giménez | Spain, Lithuania, Germany |
| You Resemble Me | Tu me ressembles | Dina Amer | Egypt, France, United States |
| Out of competition ||||
| Lovely Boy | Lovely Boy | Francesco Lettieri | Italy |
| Special events ||||
| The Forgotten Ones | Mizrahim, les oubliés de la terre promise | Michale Boganim | France, Israel |
| Il Palazzo | Il Palazzo | Federica Di Giacomo | Italy, Czech Republic |
| Senza fine | Senza fine | Elisa Fuksas | Italy |
| The Great Silence | Il silenzio grande | Alessandro Gassmann | Italy, Poland |
| Three Minutes: A Lengthening | Three Minutes: A Lengthening | Bianca Stigter | Netherlands |
| Venice Nights ||||
| Caveman | Caveman | Tommaso Landucci | Italy, Switzerland |
| Cùntami | Cùntami | Giovanna Taviani | Italy |
| Sons of Cain | Les Enfants de Caïn | Keti Stamo | France, Albania, Italy |
| Fellini and the Shadow | Fellini e l'ombra | Catherine McGilvray | Italy, Switzerland |
| Giulia | Giulia | Ciro De Caro | Italy |
| Hugo in Argentina | Hugo in Argentina | Stefano Knuchel | Switzerland |
| Isolation | Isolation | Michele Placido, Julia von Heinz, Olivier Guerpillon, Jaco Van Dormael, Michael Winterbottom | Italy, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, United Kingdom |
| The World in Shots | Il mondo a scatti | Cecilia Mangini, Paolo Pisanelli | Italy |
| Our Ghosts | I nostri fantasmi | Alessandro Capitani | Italy |
| Princesa | Princesa | Stefania Muresu | Italy |
| With or Without You | Una relazione | Stefano Sardo | Italy |
| Spin Time | Spin Time | Sabina Guzzanti | Italy |
| Tonino de Bernardi - Un tempo, un incontro | Tonino de Bernardi - Un tempo, un incontro | Daniele Segre | Italy |
| Welcome Venice | Welcome Venice | Andrea Segre | Italy |
| Women's Tales Project ||||
| #21. Shangri-La | #21. Shangri-La | Isabel Sandoval | Italy, United States |
| #22. I and the Stupid Boy | #22. I and the Stupid Boy | Kaouther Ben Hania | Italy, France |

## Official Awards

The following official awards were presented at the 78th Edition:

### In Competition

* Golden Lion: Happening by Audrey Diwan
* Grand Jury Prize: The Hand of God by Paolo Sorrentino
* Silver Lion: The Power of the Dog by Jane Campion
* Volpi Cup for Best Actress: Penélope Cruz for Parallel Mothers
* Volpi Cup for Best Actor: John Arcilla for On the Job: The Missing 8
* Best Screenplay: The Lost Daughter by Maggie Gyllenhaal
* Special Jury Prize: Il buco by Michelangelo Frammartino
* Marcello Mastroianni Award: Filippo Scotti for The Hand of God

### Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement

* Roberto Benigni
* Jamie Lee Curtis

### Horizons (Orizzonti)

* Best Film: Pilgrims by Laurynas Bareisa
* Best Director: Full Time by Éric Gravel
* Special Jury Prize: El Gran Movimiento by Kiro Russo
* Best Actress: Laure Calamy for Full Time
* Best Actor: Piseth Chhun for White Building
* Best Screenplay: 107 Mothers by Peter Kerekes
* Best Short Film: The Bones by Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña
* Armani Beauty Audience Award: The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic by Teemu Nikki

### Luigi De Laurentis Award for a Debut Film (Lion of the Future)

* Immaculate by George Chiper-Lillemark and Monica Stan

## Independent Sections Awards

The following awards were presented by independent juries:

### Venice International Critics' Week

* Grand Prize: Zalava by Arsalan Amiri
* Mario Serandrei: They Carry Death by Samuel M. Delgado and Helena Girón
* Best Short Film: Inchei by Federico Demattè
* Best Director: Inchei by Federico Demattè
* Best Technical Contribution: L'Incanto by Chiara Caterina

### Giornarte degli Autori

* GdA Director's Award: Immaculate by George Chiper-Lillemark and Monica Stan
* Europa Cinemas Label Award: Californie by Alessandro Cassigoli and Casey Kauffman

## Independent Awards
### Queer Lion

* The Last Chapter by Gianluca Matarrese

### Arca CinemaGiovani Award

* Best Italian Film: The Hand of God by Paolo Sorrentino
* Venezia 78 Best Film: Happening by Audrey Diwan

### Authors under 40 Award

* Best Director: Vera Dreams of the Sea by Kaltrina Krasniqi
* Best Screenplay: Immaculate by George Chiper-Lillemark and Monica Stan

### BNL Gruppo BNP Paribas People's Choice Award

* Privat Desert by Aly Muritiba

### Brian Award

* Happening by Audrey Diwan

### Casa Wabi – Mantarraya Award

* Immaculate by George Chiper-Lillemark and Monica Stan

### CICT - UNESCO "Enrico Fulchignoni" Award

* Amira by Mohamed Diab

### Edipo Re Award

* Al Garib by Amer Fakher Eldin
* Vera Dreams of the Sea by Kaltrina Krasniqi

### Fanheart3 Award

* Graffetta d'Oro for Best Film: Freaks Out by Gabriele Mainetti
* Nave d’Argento for Best OTP: Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon by Ana Lily Amirpour
* VR Fan Experience: Knot: A Trilogy by Glen Neath and David Rosenberg
* Special Mention: Old Henry by Potsy Ponciroli

### FEDIC Award

* Il buco by Michelangelo Frammartino
** Special mention: The Girl Flew by Wilma Labate

### FIPRESCI Awards

* Best Film (main competition): Happening by Audrey Diwan
* Best Film (other sections): Zalava by Arsalan Amiri

### Fondazione Mimmo Rotella Award

* Mario Martone and Toni Servillo for The King of Laughter

### Francesco Pasinetti Award

* Best Film: The Hand of God by Paolo Sorrentino
* Best Actor:
** Leonardo Di Costanzo for The Inner Cage
** Toni Servillo for The Hand of God and The King of Laughter
* Best Actress: Teresa Saponangelo for The Hand of God

### Green Drop Award

* Il buco by Michelangelo Frammartino

### Leoncino d'Oro Award

* Freaks Out by Gabriele Mainetti

### Lizzani Award

* Freaks Out by Gabriele Mainetti

### Premio Fondazione Fai Persona Lavoro Ambiente

* El Gran Movimiento by Kiro Russo
** Special mention: Costa Brava, Lebanon by Mounia Akl
** Special mention: 7 Prisoners by Alexandre Moratto
** Special mention: Full Time by Éric Gravel

### Nuovoimaie Talent Award

* Best New Young Actor: Filippo Scotti for The Hand of God
* Best New Young Actress: Aurora Giovinazzo for Freaks Out

### La Pellicola d'Oro Award

* Best Visual Effects: Maurizio Corridori for Freaks Out
* Best Gaffer: Loris Felici for Freaks Out
* Best Camera Operator: Luca Massa for Il buco
* Best Costume Tailoring: Tirelli for The King of Laughter

### Premio Soundtrack Stars Award

* Best Soundtrack: Freaks Out by Gabriele Mainetti
** Special Mention: Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon by Ana Lily Amirpour
* Lifetime Achievement Award: Ornella Vanoni

### Premio UNIMED

* The Hand of God by Paolo Sorrentino

### Premio Fair Play al Cinema - Vivere da Sportivi

* Il buco by Michelangelo Frammartino
** Special mention: The Card Counter by Paul Schrader

### RB Casting Award

* Aurora Giovinazzo for Freaks Out

### Sfera 1932 Award

* The Box by Lorenzo Vigas

### SIGNIS Award

* Another World by Stéphane Brizé
** Special mention: The Hand of God by Paolo Sorrentino

### Smithers Foundation Award "Ambassador of Hope"

* Life of Crime 1984-2020 by Jon Alpert

### “Sorriso Diverso Venezia Award” XI edition

* Best Italian Film: Freaks Out by Gabriele Mainetti
* Best Foreign Film: 7 Prisoners by Alexandre Moratto

### 10th INTERFILM Award for Promoting Interreligious Dialogue

* Amira by Mohamed Diab

### Verona Film Club Award

* Erasing Frank by Gàbor Fabricius