Venice won the Leone d’Oro. The 78th edition of the Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica has been truly special: it managed to overcome the pandemic,  gathering into one embrace the world of international cinema to celebrate together on the laguna. It has also emphasized this is a golden moment for Italian cinema and its ability to stir emotions, to tell intense stories, to amaze.

Three prizes — besides the Golden Lion for lifetime achievement awarded to Roberto Benigni —  celebrated this true state of grace of our cinema, which competed with five movies. “In the past 20 years, Italian cinema hasn’t been as vibrant and vital as it is today. It’s not only a matter of investments but also of quality,” Festival director Alberto Barbera declared, underlining this “means a lot for the future of our cinema.”