Film Festival in Venice: Golden Lion goes to Jim Jarmusch

US director Jim Jarmusch (72) won the most important prize at the 82nd Film Festival in Venice. For his film “Father Mother Sister Brother” with Cate Blanchett, Adam Driver and Tom Waits, the jury awarded him the golden lion on Saturday evening. The decision for the best film was a bit surprising for experts. Because in advance the documentary drama “The Voice of Hind Rajab” was considered a favorite about a girl killed in the Gaza war. For the film, director Kaouther Ben Hania (48) finally received the silver lion (Grand Prix of the jury).

The independent director Jarmusch said in his acceptance speech: “Thank you for appreciating our quiet film.” “Father Mother Sister Brother” is about relationships between adult children and their parents. For this, Jarmusch uses minimalist motifs such as gestures, looks and breaks. In Germany, the winning film will run into cinemas from February 26, 2026.

The great price of the jury went to “The Voice of Hind Rajab”. Tunisian Kaouther Ben Hania tells the true story of a five-year-old girl who was probably killed by Israeli forces in January 2024 at the escape of his family. The premiere on Wednesday moved many spectators. The documentary drama received 23-minute applause. The film was produced by Brad Pitt and Joaquin Phoenix, among others.

The American Benny Safdie (39) received the silver lion for the best director for his wrestling drama “The Smashing Machine” with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt. Chinese Xin Zhoei was awarded the best actress for her role in “The Sun Rises on Us All” by Cai Shangjun, as the best actor of the Italian Toni Servillo for his role in “La Grazia” by Paolo Sorrentino. The prize for the best script went to the French Valérie Donzelli and Gilles Marchand for “à pied d’eœuvre”.

The Swiss Luna Wedler, who is currently in the film adaptation “22 Lanes” in the cinemas, was awarded the Marcello-Mastroianni Prize for the best young actress for her role in “Silent Friend” by Ildikó Enyedi. The film mainly plays in the old botanical garden in Marburg. The Italian Gianfranco Rosi received the special prize of the jury for his Naples documentary “Sotto Le Nuvole”.

At this year’s film festival in Venice, which are among the most important film festivals in the world, 21 works competed in the competition for the main prizes. The jury, chaired by the American director Alexander Payne, was internationally staffed.