Venezia 74: Golden Lion to Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water

The 74th Venice International Film Festival concluded with Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water winning the Golden Lion for Best Film. The festival, directed by Alberto Barbera, featured a female jury president for the first time, Annette Bening, who criticized cinema's sexism. Alessandro Borghi served as the first male host for opening and closing ceremonies. Notable films included Foxtrot by Samuel Maoz, which won the Grand Jury Prize Silver Lion, and Xavier Legrand's Jusqu'à La Garde, which won the Silver Lion for Best Director and the Luigi De Laurentiis Award for a Debut Film. Charlotte Rampling won Best Actress for Hannah, and Kamel El Basha won Best Actor for The Insult. The festival also introduced a VR competition, with Arden's Wake Expanded winning Best VR. Other winners included Susanna Nicchiarelli's Nico, 1988 for Best Film in the Orizzonti section. The festival expanded its competition to include genre and commercial films, signaling a shift in programming.