78. Venice International Film Festival: the films in competition
The Venice Film Festival 2021, in its second edition in Covid time, strictly adhered to the established rules, with 50% capacity, entry controls, (assigned) seat reservations and green passes, to protect the health of those attending the event.
There were 21 films in competition, including Pedro Almodóvar’s “Madres Paralelas”, the Festival’s opening film, and Audrey Diwan’s “L’événement”, which was unanimously awarded the Golden Lion for Best Film. Below there is the complete list of the films in competition:
- Parallel Mothers, Director Pedro Almodóvar
- Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon, Director Ana Lily Amirpour
- Another World, Director Stéphane Brizé
- The Power of the Dog, Director Jane Campion
- America Latina, Directors Fabio D’Innocenzo and Damiano D’Innocenzo
- Happening, Director Audrey Diwan
- Official Competition, Director Gastón Duprat
- Il buco, Director Michelangelo Frammartino
- Sundown, Director Michel Franco
- Lost Illusions, Director Xavier Giannoli
- The Lost Daughter, Director Maggie Gyllenhaal
- Spencer, Director Pablo Larraín
- Freaks Out, Director Gabriele Mainetti
- The Kingdom of Laughter, Director Mario Martone
- On The Job: The Missing 8, Director Erik Matti
- Leave No Traces, Director Jan P. Matuszyński
- Captain Volkonogov Escaped, Directors Natasha Merkulova and Aleksey Chupov
- The Card Counter, Director Paul Schrader
- The Hand of God, Director Paolo Sorrentino
- Reflection, Director Valentyn Vasyanovych
- The Box, Director Lorenzo Vigas
As every year, there were many celebrity guests at this edition. Among them we find Penelope Cruz, Pedro Almodóvar, Paolo Sorrentino, Timothée Chalamet, Kristen Stewart, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, Roberto Benigni and the Italian actress Serena Rossi, who hosted the Festival.
78 Venice International Film Festival: the winners
The international jury of the competition, chaired by South Korean director Bong Joon-ho, unanimously awarded the Golden Lion for Best Film to the French film “Happening” by Audrey Diwan. The Grand Jury Prize went to Paolo Sorrentino’s “The Hand of God”, while the Silver Lion for Best Director was won by Jane Campion for “The Power of the Dog”. As for the best female and male interpretation, the jury awarded the prizes, the Volpi Cup, to Penelope Cruz for “Parallel Mothers” and to John Arcilla for “On the Job: The Missing 8”. Below there are all the main awards of this edition of the Festival:
- 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
- Golden Osella for 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
- Best Film of the Horizons selection: Pilgrims by Laurynas Bareisa
- Lion of the Future for a Debut Film: Imaculat by George Chiper-Lillemark and Monica Stan
By: Sarah Hailey
Videography by: Marcus Warren