The 82nd Venice Film Festival is drawing to a close, with juries finalizing their selections for the prestigious awards that could significantly influence the upcoming Oscars. The awards ceremony will take place on Saturday evening, where coveted prizes, including the Golden Lion for best film, will be presented.
This year’s lineup featured a plethora of films that are already generating Oscar buzz. Notably, Kathryn Bigelow captured attention with her intense thriller “A House of Dynamite,” which tackles the grave themes of nuclear weapons and decision-making processes. Guillermo del Toro premiered a gothic reimagining of the classic “Frankenstein,” showcasing Oscar Isaac as a dangerously charming Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elodri in a raw portrayal of the monster.
Other standout films include Dwayne Johnson‘s compelling performance in “The Smashing Machine,” where he portrays a fighter battling addiction to painkillers. Meanwhile, Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons starred in Yorgos Lanthimos’s provocative “Bugonia,” exploring the complex dynamics between a kidnapper and their victim.
The festival also featured George Clooney and Adam Sandler in “Jay Kelly,” a reflective narrative on the absurdities of Hollywood, while Jude Law took on the role of Vladimir Putin in “The Wizard of the Kremlin.” Additionally, Amanda Seyfried provided a nuanced portrayal of a religious sect’s leader in “The Testament of Ann Lee.”
Though well-received, Julia Roberts and her co-stars in “After the Hunt” are not eligible for awards at Venice, as the film screened out of competition.
One of the festival’s impactful entries was “The Voice of Hind Rajab” by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, which tells the heartbreaking story of a six-year-old girl killed during the Israel-Hamas conflict. The film reportedly received a standing ovation lasting 22 minutes, marking a significant moment in the festival.
The main competition jury was led by Alexander Payne, alongside a diverse group of filmmakers, including Brazilian actor Fernanda Torres and Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof. Both Lanthimos and del Toro have previously won the Golden Lion, with their films “Poor Things” and “The Shape of Water” respectively, leading to subsequent Oscar victories.
Since 2014, the Venice Film Festival has showcased four best picture winners, including “The Shape of Water” and “Nomadland.” Last year, several films in the lineup garnered Oscars, including “The Brutalist,” which won three awards, including best actor for Adrien Brody.
As the festival concludes, the anticipation surrounding the awards and their potential impact on the Oscars grows. The ceremony promises to highlight some of the most compelling cinematic works of the year.
For further coverage of the 2025 Venice Film Festival, visit the official news hub.