Jim Jarmusch Lion d’Or at the Venice Mostra 2025: The whole list
Alexander Payne’s jury also crowned Benny Safdie best director. The French Valérie Donzelli and Gilles Marchand win the prize for the best scenario for work.
The jury chaired by Alexander Payne decided. The 82nd Mostra of Venice made its verdict.
Golden Lion for the best film
The Golden Lion for the best film goes to Jim Jarmusch for Father Mother Sister Brothera triptych on three families and their dynamics. “As filmmakers, we are not motivated by competition, but it is something that I appreciate deeply”said on stage the director, black glasses and Bordeaux costume (via Variety) before recalling his attachment to Venice, “The city of Casanova, Vivaldi and Terence Hill”.
Father Mother Sister Brotherwhich will be released in France on January 7, 2026, brings together an amazing cast: Cate Blanchett, Tom Waits, Adam Driver or Mayim Bialik.
Note that this is the first major consecration for Jarmusch, 20 years after its Grand Prix of the jury in Cannes Poàur Broken Flowers (2005).
The Jury Grand Prix
Many thought, however, that the Golden Lion would go to The Voice of Hind Rajab From Kaouther Ben Hania, drama on Gaza who had moved the Mostra during her projection, causing a 22 -minute ovation. Finally, the film received the Jury Grand Prix.
At a press conference, the president of the Alexander Payne jury had to justify this choice:
“The injustice of a festival is to have to say that such a film is better than another, which is not true. We cherish these two films too, each for their own reasons. If we had voted the day before or the next day, the result could have been different.”
Asked about a rumor evoking a juror who would have threatened to leave the deliberation, he swept the idea: “One of my jurors would have threatened to resign? Me? No … I think you shouldn’t believe everything you read online.”
On stage, Kaouther Ben Hania delivered one of the most powerful speeches of the evening, dedicating his prize to the Palestinian Red Crescent and the others “hero” de Gaza: “Hind’s voice was a cry of help that the whole world heard but to which no one has answered. His voice will continue to resonate until justice and responsibility are established. Cinema cannot bring it back, nor erase the atrocity inflicted on it. But cinema can preserve its voice.”
The money lion of the best director
The staging silver lion went to Benny Safdie who is strong for his first solo film (without his brother Josh). The Smashing Machine Met Dwayne Johnson in the shoes of an old MMA legend. The biopic is expected in France on October 29. The filmmaker entrusted his emotion:
“Being here, among the giants of the past and those of this year is a dream come true. It amazes me.”
The price of the best scenario
French cinema has also been honored. Valérie Donzelli and Gilles Marchand won the prize for the best scenario for Workforcein which Bastien Bouillon embodies a successful photographer who abandons everything to devote himself to writing, discovering poverty. Exit scheduled for January 21, 2026.
The prima volta in Concorso alla Mostra del Cinema e SUBITO A riconoscimimento: con il suo “à work”, valerie donzelli vince il premio per la migliore sceneggiatura 🎞️
He filled the storia di a fotografo di inheritance che décide di cominciare una carriera di scrittore,… pic.twitter.com/nfawwln5q6
– We love cinema (@wecinema) September 6, 2025
The special jury prize
The special jury price went to Pompei, sotto the nuvole From Gianfranco Rosi, plunged into the lives of inhabitants living in the shade of Vesuvius, expected in theaters on November 19.
Best actor Volpi Cup and best actress
The Volpi Cup for best actor rewarded Toni Servillo for La Grazia from Paolo Sorrentino (no French date yet), while that of the best actress returned to Xin Zhilei for The Sun Rises on Us All.
