78th Venice International Film Festival

The 78th annual Venice International Film Festival was held from 1 to 11 September 2021.

South Korean director Bong Joon-ho was the Jury President of the main competition, marking the first time a South Korean director has been picked as the festival's top juror. Serena Rossi hosted the opening and closing nights. The Golden Lion was awarded to Happening directed by Audrey Diwan.

Main Competition (Venezia 78)

 * Bong Joon-ho, South Korean filmmaker - Jury President
 * Saverio Costanzo, Italian filmmaker
 * Virginie Efira, Belgian actress
 * Cynthia Erivo, British actress and singer
 * Sarah Gadon, Canadian actress
 * Alexander Nanau, Romanian-German director
 * Chloé Zhao, Chinese-American filmmaker

Horizons

 * Jasmila Žbanić, Bosnian filmmaker and producer - Jury President
 * Mona Fastvold, Norwegian filmmaker and actress
 * Shahram Mokri, Iranian filmmaker
 * Josh Siegel, director of the cinema department of MoMA
 * Nadia Terranova, Italian novelist

Luigi De Laurentis Award for a Debut Film

 * Uberto Pasolini, Italian director and producer - Jury President
 * Martin Schweighofer, Austrian film critic
 * Amalia Ulman, Argentine visual artist

In Competition
The following films were selected for the main international competition:


 * Highlighted title indicates Golden Lion winner.

Out of Competition
The following films were selected to be screened out of competition:

Horizons (Orizzonti)
The following films were selected for the Horizons (Orizzonti) section:

Highlighted title indicates Orizzonti award winner.

Horizons Extra (Orizzonti Extra)
The following films were selected to the Orizzonti Extra section:

Highlighted title indicates Orizzonti Extra award winner.

Venice International Critics' Week
The lineup of films selected for the 36th Venice International Critics' Week is as follows:

Giornate degli Autori
The following films were selected for the Giornate degli Autori (aka Venice Days) section:

Official Awards
The following official awards were presented at the 78th Edition:

In Competition

 * 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

Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement

 * Roberto Benigni
 * Jamie Lee Curtis

Horizons (Orizzonti)

 * Best Film: Pilgrims by Laurynas Bareisa
 * Best Director: Full Time by Éric Gravel
 * Special Jury Prize: El Gran Movimiento by Kiro Russo
 * Best Actress: Laure Calamy for Full Time
 * Best Actor: Piseth Chhun for White Building
 * Best Screenplay: 107 Mothers by Peter Kerekes
 * Best Short Film: The Bones by Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña
 * Armani Beauty Audience Award: The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic by Teemu Nikki

Luigi De Laurentis Award for a Debut Film (Lion of the Future)

 * Immaculate by George Chiper-Lillemark and Monica Stan

Independent Sections Awards
The following awards were presented by independent juries:

Venice International Critics' Week

 * Grand Prize: Zalava by Arsalan Amiri
 * Mario Serandrei: They Carry Death by Samuel M. Delgado and Helena Girón
 * Best Short Film: Inchei by Federico Demattè
 * Best Director: Inchei by Federico Demattè
 * Best Technical Contribution: L'Incanto by Chiara Caterina

Giornarte degli Autori

 * GdA Director's Award: Immaculate by George Chiper-Lillemark and Monica Stan
 * Europa Cinemas Label Award: Californie by Alessandro Cassigoli and Casey Kauffman

Queer Lion

 * The Last Chapter by Gianluca Matarrese

Arca CinemaGiovani Award

 * Best Italian Film: The Hand of God by Paolo Sorrentino
 * Venezia 78 Best Film: Happening by Audrey Diwan

Authors under 40 Award

 * Best Director: Vera Dreams of the Sea by Kaltrina Krasniqi
 * Best Screenplay: Immaculate by George Chiper-Lillemark and Monica Stan

BNL Gruppo BNP Paribas People's Choice Award

 * Privat Desert by Aly Muritiba

Brian Award

 * Happening by Audrey Diwan

Casa Wabi – Mantarraya Award

 * Immaculate by George Chiper-Lillemark and Monica Stan

CICT - UNESCO "Enrico Fulchignoni" Award

 * Amira by Mohamed Diab

Edipo Re Award

 * Al Garib by Amer Fakher Eldin
 * Vera Dreams of the Sea by Kaltrina Krasniqi

Fanheart3 Award

 * Graffetta d'Oro for Best Film: Freaks Out by Gabriele Mainetti
 * Nave d’Argento for Best OTP: Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon by Ana Lily Amirpour
 * VR Fan Experience: Knot: A Trilogy by Glen Neath and David Rosenberg
 * Special Mention: Old Henry by Potsy Ponciroli

FEDIC Award

 * Il buco by Michelangelo Frammartino
 * Special mention: La Ragazza Ha Volato by Wilma Labate

FIPRESCI Awards

 * Best Film (main competition): Happening by Audrey Diwan
 * Best Film (other sections): Zalava by Arsalan Amiri

Fondazione Mimmo Rotella Award

 * Mario Martone and Toni Servillo for The King of Laughter

Francesco Pasinetti Award

 * Best Film: The Hand of God by Paolo Sorrentino
 * Best Actor:
 * Leonardo Di Costanzo for The Inner Cage
 * Toni Servillo for The Hand of God and The King of Laughter
 * Best Actress: Teresa Saponangelo for The Hand of God

Green Drop Award

 * Il buco by Michelangelo Frammartino

Leoncino d'Oro Award

 * Freaks Out by Gabriele Mainetti

Lizzani Award

 * Freaks Out by Gabriele Mainetti

Premio Fondazione Fai Persona Lavoro Ambiente

 * El Gran Movimiento by Kiro Russo
 * Special mention: Costa Brava, Lebanon by Mounia Akl
 * Special mention: 7 Prisoners by Alexandre Moratto
 * Special mention: Full Time by Éric Gravel

Nuovoimaie Talent Award

 * Best New Young Actor: Filippo Scotti for The Hand of God
 * Best New Young Actress: Aurora Giovinazzo for Freaks Out

La Pellicola d'Oro Award

 * Best Visual Effects: Maurizio Corridori for Freaks Out
 * Best Gaffer: Loris Felici for Freaks Out
 * Best Camera Operator: Luca Massa for Il buco
 * Best Costume Tailoring: Tirelli for The King of Laughter

Premio Soundtrack Stars Award

 * Best Soundtrack: Freaks Out by Gabriele Mainetti
 * Special Mention: Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon by Ana Lily Amirpour
 * Lifetime Achievement Award: Ornella Vanoni

Premio UNIMED

 * The Hand of God by Paolo Sorrentino

Premio Fair Play al Cinema - Vivere da Sportivi

 * Il buco by Michelangelo Frammartino
 * Special mention: The Card Counter by Paul Schrader

RB Casting Award

 * Aurora Giovinazzo for Freaks Out

Sfera 1932 Award

 * The Box by Lorenzo Vigas

SIGNIS Award

 * Another World by Stéphane Brizé
 * Special mention: The Hand of God by Paolo Sorrentino

Smithers Foundation Award "Ambassador of Hope"

 * Life of Crime 1984-2020 by Jon Alpert

“Sorriso Diverso Venezia Award” XI edition

 * Best Italian Film: Freaks Out by Gabriele Mainetti
 * Best Foreign Film: 7 Prisoners by Alexandre Moratto

10th INTERFILM Award for Promoting Interreligious Dialogue

 * Amira by Mohamed Diab

Verona Film Club Award

 * Erasing Frank by Gàbor Fabricius