‘The Shape of Water’ Wins Golden Lion for Best Film at Venice Film Festival
The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro’s 1960s woman meets fish fantasy has captured the top prize at the Venice Film Festival, the Golden Lion for Best Film. The jury, led by Academy Award nominee Annette Bening, awarded Best Actress to Charlotte Rampling (Hannah) and Best Actor to Kamel El Basha (The Insult, Lebanon’s Foreign Language Film Oscar submission). The Grand Jury Prize went to Foxtrot, the likely contender for Israel at the Oscars.
With this win, The Shape of Water is shaping up to become the Oscar frontrunner. Coming out of Venice a winner and Telluride as one of the biggest hits there, Fox Searchlight could be well on its way to securing yet another Best Picture win. The studio will release the film in the US on December 8th.
AwardsWatch correspondent Mina Takla was correct with his predictions for Charlie Plummer for Young Performer/Newcomer and Charlotte Rampling for Best Actress.
Here is the full list of winners of the 74th Venice Film Festival:
IN COMPETITION
Golden Lion: “The Shape of Water,” Guillermo del Toro
Grand Jury Prize: “Foxtrot,” Samuel Maoz
Silver Lion for Best Director: Xavier Legrand, “Custody”
Volpi Cup for Best Actress: Charlotte Rampling, “Hannah”
Volpi Cup for Best Actor: Kamel El Basha, “The Insult”
Best Screenplay: “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” Martin McDonagh
Special Jury Prize: “Sweet Country,” Warwick Thornton
Marcello Mastroianni Award for Young Performer: Charlie Plummer, “Lean on Pete”
HORIZONS (ORIZZONTI)
Best Film: “Nico, 1988,” Susanna Nicchiarelli
Best Director: Vahid Jalilvand, “No Date, No Signature”
Special Jury Prize: “Caniba,” Verena Paravel and Lucien Castaing-Taylor
Best Actress: Lyna Khoudri, “Les bienheureux”
Best Actor: Navid Mohammadzadeh, “No Date, No Signature”
Best Screenplay: “Oblivion Verses,” Dominique Wellinski and Rene Ballesteros
Best Short Film: “Gros chagrin,” Céline Devaux
LION OF THE FUTURE
Luigi De Laurentiis Award for Best Debut Film: “Custody,” Xavier Legrand
VENICE CLASSICS
Best Documentary on Cinema: “The Prince and the Dybbuk,” Elvira Niewiera and Piotr Rosolowski
Best Restored Film: “Come and See”
VIRTUAL REALITY COMPETITION
Best Virtual Reality: “Arden’s Wake (Expanded),” Eugene Y.K. Chung
Best Virtual Reality Experience: “La Camera Isabbiata,” Laurie Anderson and Hsin-chien Huang
Best Virtual Reality Story: “Bloodless,” Gina Kim
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