Venice Film Festival 2020, the 77th Venice International Film Festival organised by La Biennale di Venezia was held from 2nd September to 12th September 2020. Marathi film – The Disciple, directed by Chaitanya Tamhane and starring Aditya Modak, Arun Dravid, Sumitra Bhave and Kiran Yadnyopavit won the Best Screenplay Award at the festival.
- Chatainya Tamhane is the first Indian to contest in the main category of a European film festival since Mira Nair for Monsoon Wedding in Venice 2001.
- Chinese-American filmmaker Chloe Zhao bagging the top prize of the coveted Golden Lion for her drama Nomadland.
About “The Disciple”:
i.The movie was produced by Zoo Entertainment, the company of Vivek Gomber and the executive producer of the film was Alfonso Cuaron, the director of Gravity and Roma.
ii.The movie The Disciple portrays the both professional and personal life experiences of a Hindustani classical singer.
iii.The movie also won the Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique (FIPRESCI) Award which is given by International film critics.
iv.Under the special presentations category this film was screened in the Toronto International film festival.
Points to be noted – Previous Indian film to be awarded the FIPRESCI Award at the annual film gala was “Mathilukal”, directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan in 1990.
Other awards at Venice Film Festival 2020:
| Category | Winner |
| Golden Lion | Nomadland directed by Chloé Zhao |
| Silver lion-grand jury prize | New Order directed by Michel Franco |
| Silver Lion award for Best Director | Kiyoshi Kurosawa for Wife of a Spy |
| Special Jury Prize | Dear Comrades! Directed by Andrei Konchalovsky |
| Coppa Volpi for Best Actress | Vanessa Kirby for Pieces of a Woman |
| Coppa Volpi for Best Actor | Pierfrancesco Favino for Padrenostro |
| Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor or Actress | Rouhollah Zamani for Sun Children |
| Orizzonti Award for Best Film | The Wasteland directed by Ahmad Bahrami |
| Orizzonti Award for Best Director | Lav Diaz for Genus Pan |
| Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay | Pietro Castellitto for I Predatori |
| Orizzonti Award for Best Actress | Khansa Batma for Zanka Contact |
| Orizzonti Award for Best Actor | Yahya Mahayni for The Man Who Sold His Skin |
| Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film | Entre Tu Y Milagros directed by Mariana Saffon |
| Special Orizzonti jury prize | Listen directed by Ana Rocha de Sousa |
| Venice Short Film nomination for the European Film Awards 2020 | The Shift directed by Laura Carreira |
| Venice Award for Debut film | Listen directed by Ana Rocha de Sousa |
| Grand Jury Prize for Best VR immersive Work | The Hangman at Home by Michelle and Uri Kranot |
| Best VR Immersive User Experience | Finding Pandora X by Kiira Benzing |
| Best VR Immersive Story | Killing a Superstar directed by Fan Fan |
Recent Related News:
i.On 2nd August 2020, Malayalam film ‘Moothon’ and National Award winning documentary ‘Son Rise’ won awards at the 20th edition of New York Indian Film Festival(NYIFF) of Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC) which was conducted as a virtual event.
ii.The 70th edition of Berlin International Film Festival(Berlinale) 2020 was held in Berlin, Germany from 20 February–1 March 2020. ‘There Is No Evil’,a film about the death penalty in Iran,won the Golden Bear prize 2020 for the best picture at the Festival.
About La Biennale di Venezia:
President– Roberto Cicutto
Director General– Andrea Del Mercato
Headquarters– Venice, Italy
