Dwayne Johnson Stars in Jim Jarmusch’s “Father Mother Sister Brother,” Wins Venice 2025 Gold Lion!

The esteemed Italian film festival, Venice Film Festival, under the guidance of jury president Alexander Payne, has revealed the big winners of its 2025 edition. The festival featured three French films, returns from previous Golden Lion winners, and prominent figures from Hollywood, setting the stage for a significant cinematic event. The international film community shone brightly, reflecting current global concerns.

The Golden Lion, the highest award at the Venice Film Festival, was presented to Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother, starring Cate Blanchett, Adam Driver, Tom Waits, Mayim Bialik, Charlotte Rampling, and Vicky Krieps. This film follows last year’s winner, The Room Next Door by Pedro Almodóvar, and is set for release in France on January 7, 2026.

The Grand Jury Prize was awarded to La Voix de Hind Rajad by Kaouther Ben Hania, succeeding Vermiglio ou La Mariée des montagnes by Maura Delpero, which won in 2024.

In the acting categories, Chinese actress Xin Zhilei received the Volpi Cup for Best Actress for her remarkable portrayal of a woman haunted by the return of a past love in The Sun Rises on Us All by Cai Shangjun.

The Volpi Cup for Best Actor went to Italian actor Toni Servillo for his role as a widowed president at the end of his term, wrestling with deep moral dilemmas, in La Grazia by Paolo Sorrentino. Meanwhile, young actress Luna Wedler was honored with the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actor or Actress for her performance in Silent Friend by Ildikó Enyedi.

The Silver Lion for Best Director was given to Benny Safdie for his direction of The Smashing Machine, a biopic about 1990s MMA legend Mark Kerr, starring Dwayne Johnson as Kerr and Emily Blunt as his wife, Dawn Staples. Safdie follows Brady Corbet, who won last year for The Brutalist.

The Best Screenplay award was given to Valérie Donzelli and Gilles Marchand for the dramatic comedy À pied d’œuvre. Additionally, the Special Jury Prize was awarded to the documentary Pompei, Sotto le Nuvole, directed by Gianfranco Rosi.

Complete List of Venice 2025 Competition Winners

GOLDEN LION: Father Mother Sister Brother by Jim Jarmusch

SILVER LION – GRAND JURY PRIZE: La Voix de Hind Rajad by Kaouther Ben Hania

SILVER LION – BEST DIRECTOR: Benny Safdie for The Smashing Machine

VOLPI CUP FOR BEST ACTRESS: Xin Zhilei for her role in The Sun Rises on Us All by Cai Shangjun

VOLPI CUP FOR BEST ACTOR: Toni Servillo for his role in La Grazia by Paolo Sorrentino

BEST SCREENPLAY: Valérie Donzelli and Gilles Marchand for À pied d’œuvre

MARCELLO MASTROIANNI AWARD FOR BEST NEW YOUNG ACTOR OR ACTRESS: Luna Wedler for her role in Silent Friend by Ildikó Enyedi

SPECIAL JURY PRIZE: Pompei, Sotto le Nuvole by Gianfranco Rosi