The 78th Venice Film Festival announces the winners of its parallel awards

The 78^th edition of the Venice Film Festival (1-11 September) has announced the recipients of this year’s parallel awards. Traditionally, the winners are decided on independently by associations of film critics, clubs and cultural associations, as well as cinema professionals. Among this year’s victors were Audrey Diwan’s Happening [+] (FIPRESCI Award for Best Film in the Main Competition), Arsalan Amiri’s Zalava (FIPRESCI Award for Best Film from Orizzonti and the Parallel Sections) and Gabriele Mainetti’s Freaks Out [+], the recipient of four accolades (Special Pasinetti Award, Lizzani Award, Leoncino d’Oro and Fanheart3’s Golden Clip for Best Movie). In addition, four further prizes were awarded to Paolo Sorrentino’s The Hand of God [+] (Francesco Pasinetti Awards for Best Film, Best Actor and Best Actress, and UNIMED Award).

FIPRESCI Award – Competition
Happening [+] – Audrey Diwan (France)

FIPRESCI Award – Best Film from Orizzonti and the Parallel Sections
Zalava – Arsalan Amiri (Iran)

Francesco Pasinetti Award – National Union of Italian Film Journalists

Best Film
The Hand of God [+] – Paolo Sorrentino (Italy)

Best Actor
Toni Servillo – The Hand of God, The Inner Cage [+] (Italy/Switzerland) and The King of Laughter [+] (Italy/Spain)

Best Actress
Teresa Saponangelo – The Hand of God

Special Award
Freaks Out [+] – Gabriele Mainetti (Italy/Belgium)

UNIMED Award
The Hand of God – Paolo Sorrentino

Leoncino d’Oro Award – Agiscuola, UNICEF
Freaks Out – Gabriele Mainetti

Lizzani Award – ANAC (Associazione Nazionale Autori Cinematografici)
Freaks Out – Gabriele Mainetti

Queer Lion Award
The Last Chapter [+] – Gianluca Matarrese (Italy/France)

Fanheart3 Awards

Golden Clip for Best Movie
Freaks Out – Gabriele Mainetti

Silver Ship for Best OTP
Mona Lisa/Fuzz – Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon (USA)

VR Fan Experience
Knot: A Trilogy – Glen Neath and David Rosenberg (UK)

Honourable Mention
Old Henry – Potsy Ponciroli (USA)

Valentina Pedicini “Autrici under 40” Special Prize

Best Directing
Detours [+] – Ekaterina Selenkina (Russia/Netherlands)
Vera Dreams of the Sea [+] – Kaltrina Krasniqi (Kosovo/Albania/North Macedonia)

Best Screenplay
Monica Stan – Immaculate [+] (Romania)

Soundtrack Stars Award
Ornella Vanoni – Senza fine [+] (Italy)

Edipo Re Inclusivity Award
The Stranger [+] – Amer Fakher Eldin (Syria/Germany/Palestine/Qatar)
Vera Dreams of the Sea – Kaltrina Krasniqi