Venice — Special to The Master Scene
The Venice International Film Critics’ Week has officially unveiled the winners for its latest edition, bestowing top honors upon Tommaso Osperti’s Italian feature “Before the War” (Prima della guerra), which scooped up the coveted Grand Prize for Best Film. Organized by the National Union of Italian Film Critics, the parallel section continues its run as a premier launching pad for debut features and emerging global talent.
The jury singled out Osperti’s entry for its intense direction, standout lead performances, and striking visual composition that leverages body language, faces, and gestures to craft escalating tension. Set in the Italian Po Valley, the narrative tracks Guido, a young man raised amid violence and racism, as his path crosses with Sonia, a young immigrant from Kosovo. The production also secured the Luciano Sovena Award for Best Producer.
Audience Choice
The Audience Award went to Shalini Adnani’s “Our Share of Sand,” a family drama taking aim at inequality and the ongoing climate crisis.
Meanwhile, Bibiana Rojas Gómez and Juan David Cárdenas Maldonado’s “The End of Times” snagged the Mario Serandrei — Hotel Saturnia Award for Best Technical Contribution. The film was celebrated for its bold temporal editing, blending archived VHS tapes with generative AI technology as it follows Salome unearthing old home recordings to process her mother’s grief.
Virtual Realities
Dong Ji’s “Zoom In, Zoom Out” picked up the Circolo del Cinema di Verona Award for Most Innovative Film. The storyline centers on Shi, a young game designer searching for his missing roommate Gao, whose journey leads him to Gao’s girlfriend Wai Wai via a hidden in-game clue, blending the physical city with virtual spaces.
Short Film Laurels
In the short film competition, Noemi Arfuso’s “E-I-E-I-O” took home the top prize for its blend of satire and dark fantasy, chronicling two artificial entities plotting human extinction until a sudden revolt jeopardizes their mission.
Caterina Bertini and Blu Diego Fasoli’s “Where the Tears Wait” earned a Special Mention, while Pauli De Luca snagged Best Director for “Revolver.”
The Award for Best Technical Contribution in a Short went to Giulia Cosentino for “If Things Happen” (Se mai le cose)—a short following a woman returning to an old apartment to gather her belongings, which also snagged the National Center for Short Films Award.
“London” Claims the Queer Lion
On the parallel honors front, the Brazilian feature “London,” marking the directorial debut of Victor Di Marco and Márcio Picoli, captured the prestigious Queer Lion Award. The film tells the story of a disabled gay performer working at an adult venue who faces a pivotal turning point regarding his body, identity, and independence.
This year’s Venice Critics’ Week slate reaffirms the sidebar’s reputation as an essential platform for first-time directors and experimental cinema, offering bold new names a direct route to festival audiences and international acclaim.
