21 films vie for Venice festival's top prize | News

VENICE, Sept 6, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - A heart-wrenching docudrama about the Gaza war, a wrestling-themed love story starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and a darkly satirical South Korean thriller are among 21 films vying for the top prize at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday. After 10 days of star-packed premieres and red-carpet thrills, the festival wraps up with the jury headed by American director Alexander Payne unveiling the best picture prize during a closing ceremony from 1700 GMT. Measured by its impact on audiences, tear-jerking "The Voice of Hind Rajab" is a strong contender for the Golden Lion and would make a political statement against Israel's ongoing siege and bombardment of Gaza. It is a dramatised re-telling of the...