Venice: Laura Poitras ‘All the Beauty and the Bloodshed’ Wins Golden Lion [Updated]

Laura Poitras fascinating “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” has won Venice. I can’t say I’m surprised as I mentioned a few days ago that it was between Poitras, Diop and Field.

I was going to wait until the New York Film Festival to post my thoughts on “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed,” but I’ll briefly say it’s VERY GOOD. It effortlessly meshes both of its storylines and becomes an indelibly realized portrait of grief, corruption and personal freedom.

I believe in a stronger year for fall films it might not have won, but this year feels like one where such a movie should win the Golden Lion. Is it the type of doc that could get Oscar-nominated for Best Picture? I’m not entirely sure about that.

Alice Diop’s “Saint Omer” won the Grand Jury Prize aka Second Place. I’ll be catching that one tomorrow at TIFF. Cate Blanchett obviously won the the Volvi Cup aka Best Actress.

A few notes:

— Jafar Panahi and Alice Diop are the only non-English winners at Venice this year.

— NEON won the Golden Lion and the Palme d’Or this year. Maybe they’ll finally make some money this year?

— No “Blonde”, no “Bardo”, and no “The Whale”.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

Golden Lion: “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed,” Laura Poitras

Silver Lion for Best Director: “Bones and All,” Luca Guadagnino

Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize:“Saint Omer,” Alice Diop

Best Actor: Colin Farrell, “The Banshees of Inisherin”

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, “TÁR”

Best Screenplay: “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Martin McDonagh

Special Jury Prize: “No Bears,” Jafar Panahi

Best Young Actor:“Bones and All,” Taylor Russell

EARLIER: Venice will be giving out its prizes today. Now we wonder what can win the Golden Lion.

Cate Blanchett is back at Venice, which means she might be getting the Best Actress award or could possibly be accepting an award on behalf of Todd Field.

An Italian journalist claims “Blonde” might be winning something this afternoon. That would be a shocking but very pleasant surprise. However, De Armas is confirmed to still be in France at Deauville.

Meanwhile, “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” “No Bears” and “Saint Omer” keep popping up as possible contenders.

I will updating this page throughout the day.

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