Indian filmmaker Anuparna Roy has made history by winning the Best Director award in the Orizzonti (Horizons) section at the 82nd Venice Film Festival for her debut feature, 'Songs of Forgotten Trees'. This marks the first time an Indian director has received this honor. The Orizzonti section is a prestigious segment of the festival that spotlights new trends in cinema, debut works, young talents, indie films, and lesser-known films that leave a significant impact. Roy's film was the only Indian entry in this category.
'Songs of Forgotten Trees' tells the poignant story of two migrant women in Mumbai. The award was announced by Julia Ducournau, the president of the Orizzonti jury. Roy accepted the award on stage wearing a white saree and received a standing ovation. In her emotional acceptance speech, she described the moment as "surreal" and credited her cast, crew, and Anurag Kashyap for believing in a story that resisted formula.
The 82nd Venice Film Festival concluded on Saturday with its awards ceremony. This year, the festival saw a surprising turn of events when the American indie film 'Father Mother Sister Brother' claimed the coveted Golden Lion for Best Film. The Silver Lion runner-up award was given to 'The Voice of Hind Rajab', directed by Tunisia's Kaouther Ben Hania. Toni Servillo won Best Actor for his role in the Italian film 'La Grazia', while Xin Zhilei won Best Actress for her performance in 'The Sun Rises On Us All'. Benny Safdie was named Best Director in the main competition for 'The Smashing Machine'.
The complete list of winners at the 2025 Venice Film Festival is as follows: * Main Competition
* Golden Lion: 'Father Mother Sister Brother', Jim Jarmusch
* Grand Jury Prize: 'The Voice of Hind Rajab', Kaouther Ben Hania
Orizzonti Section
Roy's win is a significant achievement for Indian cinema, bringing international attention to the country's filmmaking talent.
