Sun Sep 07 03:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Indie Director Jim Jarmusch Snags Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival; Gaza War Film Takes Silver

**Venice, Italy** – In a surprise upset, American indie filmmaker Jim Jarmusch took home the coveted Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday for his ensemble dramedy “Father Mother Sister Brother.” The film, a triptych exploring the complexities of family relationships, beat out stiff competition, including the heavily favored “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” a harrowing documentary about the death of a five-year-old Palestinian girl in Gaza.

While Jarmusch’s win was met with surprise, Tunisia’s Kaouther Ben Hania’s “The Voice of Hind Rajab” received the Silver Lion, the festival’s second highest honor. The film, featuring the real audio of the young girl’s pleas for help during the Gaza conflict, resonated deeply with audiences, earning a record-breaking 23-minute standing ovation at its premiere.

In her moving acceptance speech, Ben Hania emphasized the power of cinema to preserve Hind’s voice and demand accountability for the atrocities committed against her.

Other notable winners included Italy’s Toni Servillo for Best Actor in “La Grazia” and China’s Xin Zhilei for Best Actress in “The Sun Rises on Us All.” Benny Safdie won Best Director for “The Smashing Machine,” starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Despite being lauded by critics, several high-profile films, including those from Netflix by directors Kathryn Bigelow, Guillermo del Toro, and Noah Baumbach left the festival without awards.

The Venice Film Festival, often considered a bellwether for the Oscars, was marked this year by films grappling with contemporary issues, particularly the ongoing Israeli invasion of Gaza. Jury president Alexander Payne addressed the surprise decision to award the Golden Lion to Jarmusch, stating that the jury “treasure[d] both of those films equally.” Payne also denied rumours of juror dissent over the final awards.

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