Venice Film Festival ends with Golden Lion at stake after 'NAZA' draws record ovation

VENICE, Italy (AP) — The 83rd Venice Film Festival ends Saturday with the presentation of jury awards including the Golden Lion for best film.

There is no telling how the Maggie Gyllenhaal -led jury might swing when it comes to the big prizes for film, direction and acting. But some of the 21 entrants have emerged as favorites — judging by the standing ovations — with a mix of current events, Hollywood fare and international productions in contention.

The late festival addition “NAZA,” in which Israeli military insiders give insight into the war in Gaza and what they say is the systemic killing of Palestinian civilians, received a 25-minute standing ovation — the longest on record.

That beat the 24-minute ovation that followed last year’s premiere of “The Voice of Hind Rajab.” Some were surprised at the time that the film about a 6-year-old girl killed in Gaza received only the runner-up prize known as the Silver Lion, while the big prize went to Jim Jarmusch’s “Father Mother Sister Brother.”

Kaouther Ben Hania, who directed “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” is on this year's jury, which also includes English composer Daniel Blumberg, French filmmaker Xavier Giannoli, Afghan filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat and Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To.

Also, notably, “NAZA” is the only documentary in competition and boasts one of two female directors in the slate, with Rachel Szor sharing directing duties with Yuval Abraham.

Other films got enthusiastic ovations as well, stretching well into the mid-teens, including the more Hollywood, star-driven offerings “Wild Horse Nine” and “Bunker.”

Martin McDonagh’s “Wild Horse Nine,” a dark comedy about two CIA agents on a trip to Easter Island shortly before the 1973 military coup in Chile, impressed festivalgoers with its sharp script and performances from John Malkovich, who has never won an Oscar, and Sam Rockwell.

McDonagh’s previous two films, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” and “The Banshees of Inisherin” both premiered at Venice, where he received screenplay prizes for both, and an actor win for Colin Farrell. Those two films went on to receive multiple Oscar nominations, including best picture. “Three Billboards” won two, for Rockwell and Frances McDormand.

“Bunker,” a psychological thriller that reunited real life couple Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz on screen also had audiences clapping for over 14 minutes. But the Florian Zeller-written and -directed film about marital tensions when an acclaimed architect is asked to build a luxury bunker for a tech billionaire, received mixed reviews. Sometimes the ovations in Venice can be more about the drawing power of a film's stars than the film itself.

The crime thriller “Primetime " raises the question of whether Robert Pattinson might be celebrated for his widely praised turn as “To Catch a Predator” host Chris Hansen.

Perhaps sisters Rooney and Kate Mara will get some recognition for their synced performances in Werner Herzog’s “Bucking Fastard.”

And then there is the international contingent, which includes Danish-Egyptian filmmaker May El Toukhy’s tense domestic drama “Woman Unknown,” set in the aftermath of World War II, Hirokazu Koreeda’s contemplative manga adaptation “Look Back” and South Korean auteur Lee Chang-dong’s poetic portrait of class and labor, “Possible Love.”

In Lee's latest film, actors Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong play two married couples, one wealthy, one struggling, who become connected through a documentary about laid off workers in Korea. “Possible Love” is Lee's first film in eight years, following his acclaimed “Burning,” and became an immediate favorite among critics at the festival.

The main competition jury will have the final say, however, and Venice juries have been known to surprise. Remember when “Joker” won?

For more coverage of the 2026 Venice Film Festival, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/venice-film-festival

Maggie Gyllenhaal speaks to the audience prior to Ellen Burstyn receiving the golden lion for lifetime achievement during the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Driector Lee Chang-dong, from left, Sul Kyung-gu, Jeon Do-yeon, Cho Yeo-jeong and Zo In-sung pose for photographers at the red carpet for the film 'Possible Love' during the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. (Photo by Alessandra Tarantino/Invision/AP)

John Malkovich, left, and Sam Rockwell pose for photographers at the red carpet for the film 'Wild Horse Nine' during the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. (Photo by Alessandra Tarantino/Invision/AP)

Directors Yuval Abraham, left, and Rachel Szor pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Naza' during the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Robert Pattinson poses for photographers at the red carpet for the film 'Primetime' during the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (Photo by Alessandra Tarantino/Invision/AP)

ATLANTA (AP) — Drake Baldwin doubled to center field in the 11th inning to score Ha-Seong Kim from first base and the Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-5 on Friday night in the opening game of a key NL East series.

The first-place Braves extended their lead over the Phillies to five games. The teams split a four-game series in Philadelphia that began last Friday.

Luis Arraez's single to left field off Didier Fuentes (7-2) in the 11th drove in designated runner Garrett Stubbs to give Philadelphia a 5-4 lead. Kim's single off Brooks Raley (5-6) in the bottom of the inning drove in Ozzie Albies to tie it. Baldwin followed with the winning double.

Phillies right-hander Jonathan Bowlan blew a 3-2 lead in the ninth. Bowlan gave up a one-out single to Mike Yastrzemski. Pinch-runner DaShawn Keirsey Jr., who was recalled before the game, scored from first on Sean Murphy’s single up the middle and center fielder Derek Hill’s fielding error.

Aaron Nola gave up homers to Matt Olson in the first and Austin Riley in the seventh. Braves left-hander Chris Sale allowed three runs on only three hits in seven innings but struggled with two outs in the second. Edmundo Sosa singled before Sale walked Bryan De La Cruz and hit J.T. Realmuto with a pitch to load the bases. Derek Hill doubled off the center-field wall to drive in three runs.

The Braves placed outfielder Lane Thomas (strained left intercostal muscle) on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Tuesday.

There was a pregame ceremony for the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. A survivor of the attacks in New York, Atlanta resident Kayla Bergeron, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

The start of the game was delayed 47 minutes by rain.

Phillies manager Don Mattingly said after the game LHP Jesús Luzardo would not make his scheduled start Saturday night due to left shoulder stiffness. A replacement starter was not named. RHP Tyler Mahle (5-10, 4.05) is Atlanta's scheduled starter.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson follows through on a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale delivers to a Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

State and local law enforcement officers participate in a 25th anniversary ceremony for the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the United States before a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Chase Shugart warms up under rain threatening clouds before a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola delivers to an Atlanta Braves batter during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)