Venice Film Week Celebrates its 10th Anniversary with Bold Cinema and Prestigious Awards

Venice, Italy — The 10th edition of Venice Film Week concluded with resounding success, reaffirming its reputation as one of Europe’s most daring showcases for contemporary independent cinema. Running from August 11–15, 2025, the festival welcomed audiences to indoor screenings at the Fondazione Querini Stampalia, before culminating in a spectacular closing night under the stars at Campo San Polo, in the very heart of Venice. A remarkable turnout demonstrated that even the most challenging programming can find an enthusiastic and discerning audience.

This anniversary edition was further distinguished by the presence of special guests Giorgio Cugno, Michele Silvano, Iacopo Silvano, Maximilian Gigliucci, and Gianluca Grazini, whose contributions enriched the festival dialogue. In a continuing commitment to support filmmakers, each of the selected directors received The Tarkovski Grant, a festival submission package valued at €500.

The jury, composed of international professionals from the fields of film, art, and criticism, awarded prizes across seven categories. Their deliberations highlighted works that push boundaries both artistically and emotionally.

2025 Venice Film Week Award Winners

Best Narrative Feature Film Alien Food (Italy) — Directed by Giorgio Cugno

“A masterful portrait of a man in profound turmoil, rendered with striking emotional depth. The film excels in its raw yet sensitive performance direction, while the cinematography frames alienation and fragility in images of haunting beauty.”

Best Documentary Feature Film Seed (Belgium) — Directed by Dries Meddens

“An intimate and deeply resonant exploration of the fragile bonds between father and son. Meddens captures moments of tenderness and conflict with quiet precision, creating a portrait as delicate as it is affecting.”

Best Narrative Short Film The Cascade (Mexico) — Directed by Pablo Delgado

“An exquisitely crafted comedy of repression, executed with razor-sharp precision. Delgado’s stylised direction and controlled performances expose the absurdity of suppressed emotions with both humor and sophistication.”

Best Documentary Short Film Ice Breath (Romania) — Directed by Leonard Alecu

“A hypnotic meditation on image and atmosphere. With breathtaking visual composition, Alecu transcends documentation, offering a contemplative cinematic poem where photography itself becomes narrative.”

Best Animated Film Confetti (United States) — Directed by Amanda Therese Bonaiuto

“A playful and disorienting journey, striking in both its wit and visual language. Bonaiuto’s distinct animation style balances chaos and clarity, producing a work that is as intellectually stimulating as it is entertaining.”

Best Experimental Film Giant’s Kettle (Finland) — Directed by Markku Hakala & Mari Käki

“A strikingly original film that constructs a world beyond words. Through meticulous performance direction and a daring visual approach, Hakala and Käki craft an experience that is both enigmatic and profoundly human.”

Best Italian Cinema Now Phantom (Italy) — Directed by Gabriele Manzoni

“A raw yet poetic vision of brutality’s fragile underside. Manzoni confronts violence with an unflinching gaze, uncovering moments of vulnerability that reveal the paradoxical beauty within destruction.”

A Decade of Visionary Cinema

As Venice Film Week celebrates its 10th anniversary, it continues to establish itself as a vital space for filmmakers whose work challenges conventions and expands the possibilities of cinematic language. With a strong turnout and wide recognition from both audiences and guests, the festival looks ahead to the next decade with renewed ambition.

https://www.venicefilmweek.com