Venice Film Festival ends with Golden Lion at stake after ‘NAZA’ draws record ovation

VENICE, Italy (AP) — The 83rd Venice Film Festival concluded on Saturday with the announcement of jury awards, including the prestigious Golden Lion for best film. The festival presented jury awards for best film, direction, and acting. Some of the 21 entries stood out due to their standing ovations, indicating their popularity among audiences.

The Israeli documentary "NAZA" stood out, receiving a record-breaking 25-minute standing ovation. This was the longest ovation on record at the festival. "NAZA" offered a unique perspective on the war in Gaza through the eyes of Israeli military insiders, highlighting what they perceived as the systematic killing of Palestinian civilians. Although it was awarded the Silver Lion for best documentary, the main prize went to Jim Jarmusch’s "Father Mother Sister Brother."

Among the other notable films, "Wild Horse Nine" and "Bunker," both starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, received enthusiastic ovations. "Wild Horse Nine" was a dark comedy about two CIA agents visiting Easter Island shortly before the 1973 military coup in Chile. "Bunker," a psychological thriller, starred Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz in a story about marital tensions.

The festival also featured films with international appeal, such as Danish-Egyptian director May El Toukhy's tense domestic drama "Woman Unknown," Hirokazu Koreeda's contemplative manga adaptation "Look Back," and South Korean auteur Lee Chang-dong's poetic portrait of class and labor "Possible Love."