12th Venice International Film Festival

The 12th annual Venice International Film Festival was held from 20 August to 10 September 1951.

Italian film critic Mario Gromo, was the jury president for the main competition. The Golden Lion of Saint Mark was awarded to Rashomon by Akira Kurosawa.

Jury

 * Mario Gromo, Italian film critic - Jury President
 * Antonio Baldini, Italian writer
 * Ermanno Contini
 * Fabrizio Dentice, Italian composer
 * Piero Gadda Conti, Italian film critic
 * Vinicio Marinucci
 * Gian Gaspare Napolitano, Italian journalist
 * Gian Luigi Rondi, Italian screenwriter
 * Giorgio Vigolo

Main Competition

 * Golden Lion of Saint Mark: Rashomon by Akira Kurosawa
 * Best Italian Film: Four Ways Out by Pietro Germi
 * Special Jury Prize: A Streetcar Named Desire by Elia Kazan
 * Volpi Cup for Best Actor: Jean Gabin for The Night Is My Kingdom
 * Volpi Cup for Best Actress: Vivien Leigh for A Streetcar Named Desire
 * Golden Osella:
 * Best Original Screenplay: T. E. B. Clarke for The Lavender Hill Mob
 * Best Cinematography: Léonce-Henri Burel for Diary of a Country Priest
 * Best Original Music: Hugo Friedhofer for Ace in the Hole

International Award

 * Diary of a Country Priest by Robert Bresson
 * The River by Jean Renoir
 * Ace in the Hole by Billy Wilder

OCIC Award

 * Diary of a Country Priest by Robert Bresson

Italian Film Critics Award

 * Rashomon (Akira Kurosawa)
 * Diary of a Country Priest by Robert Bresson
 * Special Prize: Peter Pendrey for Murder in the Cathedral (For the best production design)