Venice Film Festival 2024: Almodóvar Triumphs, Kidman Shines

The 81st Venice Film Festival just wrapped up, and boy, was it a star-studded affair! This year's festival was like a massive Hollywood party, with A-listers strutting their stuff on the red carpet. Let's dive into the glitz, glamour, and of course, the big winners!

A Night of Stars and Cinema

Picture this: Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega, Cate Blanchett, Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, and Brad Pitt all in one place. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, that's exactly what happened at this year's Venice Film Festival. It was a welcome change from last year when the SAG-AFTRA strike put a damper on things.

The Big Winner: Pedro Almodóvar

Drum roll, please! The top prize, the Golden Lion, went to none other than the Spanish maestro Pedro Almodóvar for his film "The Room Next Door." This movie, starring the dynamic duo of Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, had everyone talking. Fun fact: This is Almodóvar's first-ever top prize at a major film festival. Talk about saving the best for last!

Nicole Kidman: Queen of the Screen

Our favorite Aussie actress, Nicole Kidman, proved once again why she's Hollywood royalty. She snagged the Best Actress award for her knockout performance in "Babygirl." We're not surprised – when doesn't Nicole blow us away?

More Cinematic Gems

The festival was chock-full of amazing films. Here are a few that had everyone buzzing:

"Queer" by Luca Guadagnino, starring Daniel Craig (yep, James Bond himself!)

"Maria," a biopic about Maria Callas featuring Angelina Jolie

"The Brutalist," a four-hour epic about post-World War II, which won the Silver Lion

And let's not forget "Joker: Folie à Deux." While it split the critics, everyone agreed that Joaquin Phoenix knocked it out of the park (again) as Arthur Fleck.

The Full List of Winners

Here's a quick rundown of who took home the top prizes:

Golden Lion

"The Room Next Door" (Pedro Almodóvar)

Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize

"Vermiglio" (Maura Delpero)

Silver Lion Best Director

Brady Corbet, "The Brutalist"

Special Jury Prize

"April" (Déa Kulumbegashvili)

Best Screenplay

Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega, "I'm Still Here"

Best Actress

Nicole Kidman, "Babygirl"

Best Actor

Vincent Lindon, "The Quiet Son"

Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor

Paul Kirscher, "And Their Children After Them"

Horizons Awards

Best Film

"The New Year that Never Came" (Bodgan Muresanu)

Best Director

Sarah Friedland, "Familiar Touch"

Special Jury Prize

"One of Those Days When Hemme Dies" (Murat Firatoğlu)

Best Actress

Kathleen Chalfant, "Familiar Touch"

Best Actor

Francesco Gheghi, "Familia"

Best Screenplay

"Happy Holidays" (Scandar Copti)

Best Short Film

"Who Loves the Sun" (Arshia Shakiba)

Lion of the Future – Luigi De Laurentiis Award for a Debut Film

"Familiar Touch" (Sarah Friedland)

Audience Award

"Shahed (The Witness)" (Nader Saeivar)

Venice Classics

Best Documentary on Cinema

"Chain Reactions" (Alexandre O. Phillipe)

Best Restored Film

"Ecce Bombo" (Nanni Moretti)

Venice Immersive

Grand Jury Prize

"Ito Meikū" (Boris Labbé)

What's Next?

As the curtain falls on another spectacular Venice Film Festival, we're left wondering: Which of these films will make it big at the Oscars? Will Pedro Almodóvar's Golden Lion winner be Spain's pick for the Academy Awards? Only time will tell!

In the meantime, why not have a movie marathon of past Venice winners? It's the perfect way to get ready for next year's festival!