Venice, Italy — Alexander Payne, the president of the jury at the Venice Film Festival, defended the panel’s selections during Saturday’s closing ceremony press conference, particularly highlighting Jim Jarmusch’s film Father Mother Sister Brother, which won the prestigious Golden Lion.
The winning announcement surprised many as expectations ran high for Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Voice of Hind Rajab, which received a record-setting 23-minute and 40-second ovation during its screening. Ultimately, the Gaza-centered drama was awarded the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize.
Several films garnered strong support among the festival favorites, including Park Chan-wook’s black comedy No Other Choice, featuring a compelling performance by Lee Byung-hun, who was considered a strong candidate for Best Actor. Ildikó Enyedi’s introspective film Silent Friend and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi’s portrayal of acting icon Eleonora Duse in Duse also received considerable acclaim.
Payne addressed the absence of No Other Choice from the final award selections, expressing the jury’s admiration for the film but explaining that it ultimately did not make the cut for the prized top eight films. He acknowledged the difficulty of making such choices, emphasizing that many deserving films could not be recognized.
Joined on the jury by prominent figures including Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres and Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, Payne expressed their commitment to a fair and thorough selection process. Costa Rican director Maura Delpero and Chinese actor and producer Zhao Tao also lent their expertise to the deliberations.
Jarmusch’s victory at the Venice festival marked a significant moment for the director, who opted out of the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year after rejecting an offer to screen in the Cannes Premiere sidebar. The success at Venice is viewed as a validation of his decisions regarding the film’s festival journey.
However, rumors circulated on social media regarding tensions within the jury, particularly that Torres had considered resigning in protest of the decision not to award The Voice of Hind Rajab the Golden Lion. When questioned about these rumors, Payne dismissed them with humor, suggesting that one should be wary of believing everything seen online.
With the festival now concluded, the awards ceremony highlighted the diverse and rich storytelling displayed, leaving a lasting impression on both audiences and filmmakers alike.
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