Overview

• Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother won the Golden Lion, and he said the film will not be distributed in Israel if any Israeli government money is involved.
• Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Voice of Hind Rajab received the Grand Jury Prize after a 24‑minute ovation and enters the Oscars race as Tunisia’s submission with executive‑producer backing from Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Alfonso Cuarón and Jonathan Glazer.
• Jury president Alexander Payne described the decisions as extremely close, while coverage noted a strongly pro‑Palestine climate and suggested some jurors sought to avoid a top award for an explicitly political film.
• Industry attention turned to distribution after reports that Jarmusch’s international distributor Mubi faces boycott calls over financing ties linked by critics to an Israeli startup; Lucky Red will release Jarmusch’s film in Italy and I Wonder will handle Ben Hania’s film with the local date to be announced.
• Other Venice winners included Benny Safdie for Best Direction (The Smashing Machine), Toni Servillo with the Coppa Volpi for Best Actor (La grazia) and Gianfranco Rosi’s Sotto le nuvole with the Special Jury Prize.