Swedish director Roy Andersson’s ‘A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence’ an absurdist picture consisting of intersecting beautifully composed vignettes won the 71st Venice Golden Lion.
Alejandro G. Inarritu’s “Birdman or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance,” toplining Michael Keaton, which opened the fest to great acclaim, prompting immediate Oscars buzz, was noticeably snubbed.
The Silver Lion went to Russian maestro Andrei Konchalovsky’s “The Postman’s White Nights,” a drama rooted in the reality of a remote lakeside Russian village about a charismatic postman who is the locals’ sole connection to the outside world, feauturing a largely non-pro cast.
The Grand Jury Prize went to Joshua Oppenheimer’s docu “The Look Of Silence,” his follow-up to “The Act of Killing” which shifts the focus to the victims of Indonesia’s communist purge.
The Special Jury Prize went to Turkish director Kaane Mujdeci “Sivas,” a stark coming-of-age pic set in remote Anatolia centered around a boy and a dog whose life he saves.
The best screenplay award went to Iranian director Rakhshan Bani-Etemad’s “Tales,” a compilation of stories which depicts social ills in Iran.
The best actor award went to Adam Driver for his role as a young father in New York worried about his young child’s nutrition in Saverio Costanzo’s “Hungry Hearts.”
The best actress nod went to Italy’s Alba Rohrwacher for her role as as Mina, an Italian woman who obsesses about the same young child’s food regimen in Saverio Costanzo’s “Hungry Hearts.” The jury clearly thought they have great chemistry in this very topical pic.
The Lion of the Future for best first work in all sections of the Festival “Court” by Indian helmer Chaitanya Tamhane.
“Court” also scooped the best picture prize in the fest’s more cutting edge Horizons section.
The Marcello Mastroianni award for best emerging actor went French actor Romain Paul for his role as a young man who becomes enamored with music in Alex Delaport’s “Le Dernier Coup de Marteau.”
COMPLETE WINNERS OF THE 71 VENICE FILM FESTIVAL OFFICIAL AWARDS
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
GOLDEN LION
“A Pigeon Sat On A Branch Reflecting On Existence” (Roy Andersson Sweden, Germany, Norway, France)
SILVER LION
“The Postman’s White Nights” (Andrej Koncalovskij, Russia)
JURY GRAND PRIZE
“The Look Of Silence” (Joshua Oppenheimer, Denmark, Finland, Indonesis, Norway, U.K.)
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
“Sivas” (Kaan Mujdeci, Turkey, Germany)
ACTOR
Adam Driver (“Hungry Hearts,” Italy)
ACTRESS
Alba Rohrwacher (“Hungry Hearts,” Italy)
MARCELLO MASTROIANNI PRIZE FOR YOUNG PERFORMER–
Romain Paul (“Le Dernier Coup De Marteau,” France)
BEST SCREENPLAY
Rakhshan and Farid Mostafavi (“Tales,” Iran)
LUIGI DE LAURENTIIS LION OF THE FUTURE
“Court,” Chitanya Tamhane (India)
HORIZONS JURY
BEST FILM
“Court,” Chitanya Tamhane (India)
BEST DIRECTOR
“Theeb” Naji Abu Nowar (Jordan, U.A.E., Qatar, U.K.)
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
“Belluscone” (Franco Maresco, Italy)
SPECIAL PRIZE FOR BEST ACTOR OR ACTRESS
Emir Hadzihafizbegovic (“These Are The Rules,” Croatia, France, Serbia, Macedonia)
HORIZONS PRIZE FOR BEST SHORT
“Maryam” (Sidi Saleh, Indonesia)
