The 80th Venice Film Festival – Awards Ceremony
Venice, Italy, September 9, 2023 – Director Yorgos Lanthimos Wins Golden Lion Award for Best Film for ‘Poor Things’
Venice, Italy – Yorgos Lanthimos, the acclaimed director from Greece, took home the prestigious Golden Lion award at the 80th Venice Film Festival, held on September 9, 2023. His film, “Poor Things,” a gothic and sex-charged comedy, captivated the festival audience with its unique story and stellar cast.
Starring Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, and Mark Ruffalo, “Poor Things” tells the tale of Bella Baxter, a woman brought back to life by a deranged doctor who replaces her brain with that of her unborn baby. Despite her childlike appearance, Bella embarks on a journey of self-discovery, exploring her newfound independence and embracing her sexual desires in a surreal version of 19th-century Europe.
Director Yorgos Lanthimos praised Emma Stone for her remarkable portrayal of the central character, stating, “Bella Baxter wouldn’t exist without Emma Stone, another extraordinary creature.” Lanthimos is known for his previous critically acclaimed films, including “The Favourite” and “The Lobster.”
The Venice Film Festival is often regarded as the start of the awards season and has a history of predicting Academy Award winners. In fact, eight of the past eleven best director awards have been awarded to films that premiered at the festival.
Among the top acting awards at the festival, Cailee Spaeny received the award for her performance as Elvis Presley’s former wife in the biopic “Priscilla,” while Peter Sarsgaard was recognized for his role in the gritty family drama “Memory.”
The runner-up Silver Lion award went to the enigmatic rural drama “Evil Does Not Exist,” directed by Japan’s Ryusuke Hamaguchi, the only Asian entry among the 23 films competing for the main prize.
The festival was marked by strike action from Hollywood actors, resulting in a smaller number of stars in attendance. The strike was in protest of streaming sites and film studios’ contracts and their use of artificial intelligence. Actors and writers demanded improved contracts and limitations on AI usage.
During his acceptance speech, Peter Sarsgaard emphasized the need to curb AI, warning of its implications beyond Hollywood, stating, “If we lose the battle against AI, our industry will be the first of many to suffer.”
The awards ceremony also honored other notable films, including “Green Border,” a harrowing portrayal of migrants trapped on the Polish-Belarus border, directed by Agnieszka Holland from Poland. Matteo Garrone, an Italian filmmaker, won the award for Best Director for his gripping migrant film, “Me Captain,” which follows two teenagers from Senegal as they attempt to reach Europe.
Additionally, Seydou Sarr, the young star of “Me Captain,” was recognized as the Best Emerging Actor or Actress. The Best Screenplay award went to Guillermo Calderon and Pablo Larrain for their satirical film about Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet, titled “El Conde.”
Overall, the 80th Venice Film Festival showcased exceptional talent, creativity, and diversity in cinema, setting the stage for the upcoming awards season.
Related Stories:
– Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
– Your subscription has been successful.
Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4 am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000. For feedback, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
