«Woman Unknown» wins the Golden Lion award, while «Naza» receives the Special Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, led by Maggie Gyllenhaal.
The 21 films in competition have covered a wide range of subjects and styles, from political documentaries to international productions and Hollywood films.
Several titles have drawn strong reactions from audiences, with standing ovations that have helped shape the conversation around this year’s competition.
NAZA, which was added to the festival lineup late, drew a 25-minute standing ovation at its premiere, the longest-ever recorded at the festival.
The documentary, co-directed by Israeli filmmakers Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham, features Israeli military insiders speaking about the war in Gaza and what they describe as the systematic killing of Palestinian civilians.
It is the only documentary competing this year and one of just two films in the entire lineup directed by women.
Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine was also met with a standing ovation, lasting well past 10 minutes. The dark comedy follows two CIA agents travelling to Easter Island shortly before Chile’s 1973 military coup.
The film’s stars John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell’s performances were among the elements that drew attention at the premiere.
McDonagh has previously premiered two films at the festival, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and The Banshees of Inisherin.
He has previously won screenplay prizes for both films, while Colin Farrell received an acting award for the latter.
Marcello Mastroianni Award (Best young actor/actress)
Malou Khebizi wins the Marcello Mastroianni Award (Best Young Actor or Actress) at the 83rd edition of the world renowned festival for her performance in Cedric Kahn’s 15/18 (A Place to Heal).
The French drama follows two French teenage girls into psychiatric ward of a public hospital and documents their experience.
Coppa Volpi Award (Best actor/actress)
Mathilde Arcel won the coveted Coppa Volpi award at the festival for best actress for her role in Woman Unknown, directed by May el-Toukhy.
The co-production of Denmark, Sweden and Latvia explores the life of Marie (played by Arcel), a young nanny and housekeeper who is about to marry the wealthy older widower she is working for, Christian (played by Carsten Bjørnlund).
Marie is however guarding a shameful secret. During World War II, she was involved in an intimate relationship with a Nazi German soldier, and her past threatens to catch up with her.
El-Toukhy immerses viewers in the mental tormet Marie experiences as she is forced to do everything in her power to preserve her new status as lady of the house in the post-war anarchy.
Meanwhile, US actor John Malkovich took home the Coppa Volpi award for best actor for his role in McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine.
Miglior Sceneggiatura Award (Best screenplay)
Un bon petit soldat (A good little soldier) won the Miglior Sceneggiatura award for best screenplay.
The drama, directed by Stéphane Brizé, depicts Clara (played by Alba Rohrwacher), a 43-year-old high-performing and deeply devoted business executive’s life balancing between the personal and the professional.
Insecure beneath her polished image, Clara has built a successful career, but it often came at the expense of her family life.
A recent Human Recources manager hire at a major corporation, she is tasked to promote employees’ well-being while maintaining the performance goals imposed by her boss. But when Carla discovers a case of toxic management, compromises become unavoidable, threatening to push her to the breaking point.