The Venice GdA has recognized Iranian director Amir Azizi’s poignant film, ‘Inside Amir’, with the top director’s award, highlighting its emotional depth and cultural significance.
Venice GdA Winners: Iranian Drama ‘Inside Amir’ Takes Top Director’s Award
Iranian director Amir Azizi’s biographical drama has won the top GdA Director’s Award at the 22nd edition of Venice parallel section Giornate degli Autori, previously known as Venice Days.
A Love Letter to Tehran
Described as a love letter to Tehran and based loosely on Azizi’s own experiences, Inside Amir explores what it means to leave one’s mother country for a life elsewhere.
Plot Overview
Amirhossein Hosseini plays Amir, a young man in Tehran on the verge of emigrating to join his fiancée in Italy. As his departure date draws closer, Amir reflects on scattered memories and unfinished conversations, fretting about leaving his beloved push-bike behind.
Award Details
The GdA Director’s Award carries a cash prize of €20,000, split equally between the filmmaker and the film’s international distributor.
Jury Insights
This year’s GdA jury was headed by Norwegian writer and director Dag Johan Haugerud, whose film Dreams (Sex Love) won the Golden Bear at the 2025 Berlinale. He was joined by Italian producer Francesca Andreoli, Franco-Palestinian filmmaker Lina Soualem, and Tunisian cinematographer Sofian El Fani.
“The film we will honor tonight is a meditation on everyday life. It reminds us of how daily routines, movements, and conversations with friends provide both security and freedom,” read the jury statement.
“With a framing that gradually reveals a complex life marked by loss and grief against a backdrop of exile and social upheaval, the film asks fundamental questions about what it means to belong and the existential doubts that follow.”
Competition Highlights
Inside Amir was among 11 feature films showcased in the main GdA competition this year.
See More ...
In collateral prizes, the Europa Cinemas Label went to Greek director Stergios Dinopoulos and Greek-New Zealand director-writer Krysianna B. Papadakis’ Bearcave (Arkoudotrypa).
Under the award, the film will receive promotional support from Europa Cinemas and better exhibition thanks to a financial incentive for cinemas in the network.
People’s Choice Award
The People’s Choice Award, based on viewer preferences at GdA screenings, was won by two films ex aequo: Memory by Vladlena Sandu and A Sad and Beautiful World by Cyril Aris, both scoring 77.4% of the audience vote.
Ukrainian director Vladlena Sandu’s drama Memory revolves around a six-year-old girl moving from Crimea to Grozny after her parents’ divorce, unaware that war will soon consume her childhood.
Lebanese director Aris’s A Sad and Beautiful World follows the love story of childhood sweethearts Yasmina and Nino, unfolding across three decades against Lebanon’s turbulent history.
