Venice Film Fest is 86 today: Here are the best films from the event
The Venice Film Festival marks another year of influence on the global film calendar. Since its founding in 1932, the event has stood as the oldest running film festival and one of the Big Three alongside Cannes and the Berlinale. Its location on the Lido and its long record of showcasing both established names and new voices continue to draw industry figures each season.
The Return (2003)
Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev. The Russian filmmaker’s debut screened at the 60th edition and took the Golden Lion. Two brothers played by Vladimir Garin and Ivan Dobronravov confront shifting emotions when their father, known only from a photograph, suddenly appears in their remote village. The film’s measured pacing and stark northern landscapes left audiences struck by its quiet intensity.
Pietà (2012)
Director: Kim Ki-duk. The South Korean director won the Golden Lion for this stark drama about a loan shark and the woman who claims to be his mother. Ki-duk had already claimed the top prize in 2004 for 3-Iron. He passed away in 2020, leaving a body of work that often examined isolation and violence with minimal dialogue.
Recent Golden Lion Winners
Poor Things claimed the prize in 2023 under Yorgos Lanthimos. Pedro Almodóvar followed with The Room Next Door in 2024. Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother took the award in 2025. These consecutive wins show the festival’s continued appetite for distinctive voices across different countries and styles.
The Festival's Enduring Legacy
The Biennale launched the first Venice Film Festival on the Lido in 1932, making it the oldest event of its kind. Its placement among the Big Three festivals gives winners and jury selections extra weight on the awards circuit. Over nine decades the red carpet has hosted both studio campaigns and independent projects, reinforcing its status as a destination for decision makers.
Notable Directors and Repeat Success
Kim Ki-duk’s back-to-back Golden Lions in 2004 and 2012 mark a rare achievement for any filmmaker. Andrey Zvyagintsev’s 2003 debut surprised programmers and critics alike, setting the tone for a career that would later include further international recognition. Repeat recognition at Venice often signals sustained attention from distributors and festival programmers in the years that follow.
Venice Film Festival 2026 Edition
The 83rd edition is scheduled for September 2 through 12, 2026. Submissions open in February. Maggie Gyllenhaal will preside over the main competition jury. The dates keep the event firmly in its traditional late-summer slot while allowing time for post-production on titles aiming for fall awards consideration.
The festival’s history of balancing heritage programming with new discoveries keeps it relevant even as other events adjust their calendars. Its Golden Lion list reflects shifts in global cinema without abandoning the measured pace that has defined the Lido for nearly a century.
