Zillar Barta Desk,Italy:The 83rd Venice International Film Festival reached its grand finale on Saturday, September 12, with stars, filmmakers and international cinema personalities arriving on the red carpet for the highly anticipated awards ceremony at the Lido in Venice, Italy.
The closing ceremony marks the culmination of one of the world's most prestigious film festivals, with the jury preparing to announce the winners of the major prizes, including the coveted Golden Lion for Best Film. The main competition jury is headed by filmmaker and actress Maggie Gyllenhaal.
This year's competition featured 21 films, with several titles emerging as strong contenders during the festival. Israeli documentary “NAZA,” directed by Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham, attracted enormous attention after receiving a record 25-minute standing ovation. Other widely discussed contenders included Martin McDonagh's “Wild Horse Nine,” Lee Chang-dong's “Possible Love,” “Bunker,” “Woman Unknown” and Werner Herzog's “Bucking Fastard.
The red carpet once again provided a glamorous backdrop as leading actors, directors and filmmakers gathered for the festival's final night. Beyond the competition, the 2026 edition also celebrated major film-industry figures. George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn were honored with Golden Lions for Lifetime Achievement during the festival.
With the Golden Lion and other major prizes at stake, the closing ceremony brought together the artistic achievements, star power and international attention that have defined this year's Venice Film Festival. The awards are expected to set the tone for the coming awards season as filmmakers and performers look ahead to the major international film honors.
