Early morning of September 8, the results of the 81st Venice Film Festival were announced, Spain was crowned with the film The Room Next Door by director Pedro Almodovar.

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Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door Wins Golden Lion at 2024 Venice Film Festival – Photo: The Hollywood Reporter

Taking place from August 28 to September 7, the Venice Film Festival (Italy) this year has 21 films competing in the main award categories.

Spanish Cinema Crowns Venice Film Festival

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Pedro Almodovar’s The Room Next Door won the prestigious Golden Lion at the 81st Venice Film Festival.

This is the Spanish director’s first English-language film, receiving a standing ovation that lasted 17 minutes when it premiered at the previous film festival.

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Director Almodovar with the two main actresses in the film – Photo: Filmaffinity

The Room Next Door, adapted from the novel What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez, tells the story of two women, Ingrid (Julianne Moore) and Martha (Tilda Swinton), a novelist and a former war correspondent.

The two were very close when they were young but had not seen each other for many years.

While immersed in memories and old stories, Martha – who is suffering from terminal cervical cancer, decides to choose a peaceful way to leave.

She wants Ingrid to be by her side in the next room when she takes the euthanasia pill.

Director Almodovar shared: “I want to dedicate this award to my family, who are here now. The Room Next Door is my first English-language film, but the spirit of the film is in Spanish.”

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The Brutalist received a 12-minute standing ovation at its premiere – Photo: The Guardian

In other awards, director Brady Corbet won Best Director for The Brutalist, starring Adrian Brody and Felicity Jones.

The film is a fictionalised biography of László Tóth, a Hungarian architect and Holocaust survivor who emigrated to the US after the war.

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Vincent Lindon and Nicole Kidman – Photo: Alamy/BBC

Vincent Lindon was named Best Actor for his role in The Quiet Son. The Best Actress award went to Nicole Kidman for her role in the erotic thriller Babygirl.

However, Nicole Kidman was unable to attend the award due to the recent death of her mother, Janelle Ann Kidman. Director Halina Reijn accepted the award on Kidman’s behalf and revealed the news.

Maura Delpero’s Vermiglio won the Jury Prize, while I’m Still Here won Best Screenplay.

The Special Jury Prize went to Dea Kulumbegashvili’s April.

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Cate Blanchett stars in TV series Disclaimer – Photo: The Playlist

The 2024 Venice Film Festival is also a launching pad for excellent TV series.

This year’s standout works include Alfonso Cuarón’s Disclaimer starring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline and Sacha Baron Cohen.

Also on the list is Joe Wright’s M – Son of the Century, an eight-part series about the rise of Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini, starring Italian star Luca Marinelli.

Earlier at the Venice International Film Critics’ Week, director Duong Dieu Linh’s Don’t Cry, Butterfly won two awards for Best Film and Most Innovative Film.

The 81st Venice Film Festival may not have brought the same glamour as previous years, but among the lesser-known winners, Babygirl starring Nicole Kidman is perhaps the most iconic.