Almodóvar’s ‘The Room Next Door’ Wins Venice 2024’s Golden Lion
by Alex Billington September 7, 2024 Source: Biennale
At the end of it all, we finally have our winners. The 81st Venice Film Festival wrapped up this weekend on the sunny Lido island in Venice, and awards were handed out at a fancy awards show in the Sala Grande. The top prize at Venice is a Golden Lion (in honor of the iconic lion that is the symbol of the city) and it’s one of the top prizes in cinema along with the Palme d’Or from Cannes (which went to Anora). This year’s winner is beloved Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar’s latest film titled The Room Next Door, which also happens to be his very first English language feature film (after two other short films recently also in English). Despite this being his 23rd feature film so far (!!), this is Almodovar’s first ever Golden Lion win – glad he finally got one. It’s one of my favorites of the festival (my full review) though I really believe Brady Corbet’s masterpiece The Brutalist should’ve won instead. Last year, Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things won the top prize before going on to win four Oscars. Awards were also given out to Best Actor / Actress and Best Director (for Corbet), along with a number of fest highlights. View the full list of #Venezia81 winners below.
Main Venice Awards
The jury chaired by Isabelle Huppert + James Gray, Andrew Haigh, Agnieszka Holland, Kleber Mendonça Filho, Abderrahmane Sissako, Giuseppe Tornatore, Julia von Heinz, Zhang Ziyi, after all 21 films, awards:
Golden Lion for Best Film:The Room Next Door by Pedro Almodóvar
Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize:Vermiglio by Maura Delpero
Silver Lion Award for Best Director:Brady Corbet for the film The Brutalist
Coppa Volpi for Best Actress:Nicole Kidman in the film Babygirl by Halina Reijn
Coppa Volpi for Best Actor:Vincent Lindon in the film The Quiet Son (Jouer avec le feu) by Delphine Coulin & Muriel Coulin
Award for Best Screenplay:Murilo Hauser & Heitor Lorega for I’m Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui) directed by Walter Salles
Special Jury Prize:April by Dea Kulumbegashvili
Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor or Actress:Paul Kircher in the film And Their Children After Them (Leurs Enfants Après Eux) by Ludovic Boukherma & Zoran Boukherma
“Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award for a Debut Film:Familiar Touch by Sarah Friedland
Orizzonti Section Awards
The Orizzonti section Jury, chaired by Debra Granik, also with Ali Asgari, Soudade Kaadan, Christos Nikou, Tuva Novotny, Gábor Reisz and Valia Santella, after screening the 19 feature films in competition, awards:
Orizzonti Award for Best Film:The New Year That Never Came (Anul Nou care n-a fost) by Bogdan Mureșanu
Orizzonti Award for Best Director:Sarah Friedland for the film Familiar Touch
Special Orizzonti Jury Prize:One of Those Days When Hemme Dies (Hemme’nin öldüğü günlerden biri) by Murat Fıratoğlu
Orizzonti Award for Best Actress:Kathleen Chalfant in the film Familiar Touch by Sarah Friedland
Orizzonti Award for Best Actor:Francesco Gheghi in the film Familia by Francesco Costabile
Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay:Scandar Copti for Happy Holidays also directed by Scandar Copti
That’s all for now. For the full list of awards (including a few more), head to labiennale.org. Congratulations to all of the winners this year. I am mostly satisfied with these picks in 2024! Though I absolutely believe it should’ve been The Brutalist winning the Golden Lion – almost everyone is calling it a (near-)masterpiece, the best of the festival, an all-timer work of cinema, etc. The least they could’ve done is give it the top prize and give Almodovar something else in the mix! But it is what it is… I’m just happy April didn’t win – hated this one. Babygirl and I’m Still Here and good films, but not my favorites from the lineup this year. As for the other big winner, the lovely Familiar Touch took home three prizes in total. It’s a wonderful little film about an elderly woman settling into her retirement home and finding her groove there. And despite Joker winning the Golden Lion five years ago, Joker 2 was just not good enough this time – far from the powerful sequel most of us wanted to see. As always, all the winners are great films to catch in the theater. Hopefully they’ll be playing at another fest near you or in theaters soon. For more of our Venice 2024 posts, click here.
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Conclusion: The Golden Lion and Beyond
As the curtains close on the 81st Venice Film Festival, the echoes of laughter, tears, and applause still resonate within the walls of Sala Grande. The Golden Lion found its rightful place in the hands of Pedro Almodóvar, marking a historic moment in his illustrious career. The Room Next Door captivated audiences and critics alike, showcasing Almodóvar’s mastery of storytelling in a new linguistic realm.
While some may argue for their personal favorites to take the top honor, one cannot deny the magic woven into the fabric of The Room Next Door. Its resonance will linger in the hearts of those who witnessed its cinematic prowess on the shores of Venice.
But as the award season unfolds and new narratives take center stage, the beauty of cinema lies in its ability to surprise and delight. The films that grace the silver screen transport us to realms of imagination, emotion, and contemplation, each frame a brushstroke in the grand tapestry of storytelling.
So, as we bid farewell to Venice and embrace the journey ahead, let us revel in the wonder of cinema and the artistry of those who bring dreams to life on screen. Here’s to the Golden Lion, the Silver Lions, and all the luminaries who illuminate our world with their craft.
