Indian filmmaker Anuparna Roy made history at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival by winning the Best Director award. Roy won the award in the film festival’s Orizzonti section for her film Songs of Forgotten Trees. The category focuses on new trends in cinema. It highlights debut works, young talents, and indie films. It also showcases lesser-known films which leave a big impact. Songs of Forgotten Trees was also the only Indian film selected in this prestigious category.
The award was announced by French filmmaker Julia Ducournau, who was the head of the Orizzonti jury. Anuparna, dressed in a white saree, walked up to the stage to collect the award. She said the moment felt “surreal.” and expressed her gratitude toward the jury and the cast. She specifically thanked Naaz Shaikh and Sumi Baghel for bringing her story to life.
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The filmmaker also thanked Anurag Kashyap. He supported the film from the start. He believed in its worth, despite its unconventional story. “I want to thank Anurag Kashyap, my producers, the cast, and the crew. Thank you to everyone who stood by a film that didn’t fit into easy boxes. Each one there in my hometown, in my country, I want to dedicate this award to them. I want to thank Celluloid Films who showing faith in the film. I want to thank my DoP. The 80-year-old gaffer Debjit Banerjee and each one of you was amazing,” Anuparna said while accepting the award.
While on stage, Anuparna Roy also took a moment to speak about Palestine. She brought attention to the suffering of children there. “Every child deserves peace, freedom, and liberation. Palestine is no exception,” she said. She added, “Even if it upsets my country, it’s what I must say.”
Songs of Forgotten Trees
Songs of Forgotten Trees revolves around two migrant women in Mumbai, Thooya (Naaz Shaikh) and Swetha (Sumi Baghel). The narrative of the film is very personal to Anuparna. The filmmaker accepted that it is inspired by her own memories. She observed women juggling with urban life, friendship, and silent resistance. The film is produced by Bibhanshu Rai, Romil Modi, and Ranjan Singh, with Anurag Kashyap as presenter. Anuparna Roy is the first Indian filmmaker to receive the Best Director award in the Orizzonti competition. This prestigious recognition took place at Venice.
Complete list of winners at 2025 Venice Film Festival
Main Competition
Golden Lion: Father Mother Sister Brother, Jim Jarmusch
Grand Jury Prize: The Voice of Hind Rajab, Kaouther Ben Hania
Special Jury Prize: Sotto le nuvole, Gianfranco Rosi
Silver Lion for Best Director: Benny Safdie, The Smashing Machine
Volpi Cup for Best Actress: Xin Zhilei, The Sun Rises on Us All
Volpi Cup for Best Actor: Toni Servillo, La Grazia
Best Screenplay: À pied d’œuvre, Valérie Donzelli and Gilles Marchand
Marcello Mastroianni Award for emerging performer: Luna Wedler, Silent Friend
Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement: Werner Herzog and Kim Novak
Orizzonti
Best Film: En el Camino, David Pablos
Best Director: Anuparna Roy, Songs of Forgotten Trees
Special Jury Prize: Hara Watan, Akio Fujimoto
Best Actress: Benedetta Porcaroli, Il Rapimento di Arabella
Best Actor: Giacomo Covi, Un Anno di Scuola
Best Screenplay: Hiedra, Ana Cristina Barragán
Best Short Film: Without Kelly, Lovisa Sirén
Venice Spotlight
Armani Beauty Audience Award: Calle Málaga, Maryam Touzani
Lion of the Future
Luigi De Laurentiis Award for a Debut Film: Short Summer, Nastia Korkia
Venice Classics
Best Documentary on Cinema: Mata Hari, Joe Beshenkovsky and James Smith
Best Restored Film: Bashu, the Little Stranger, Bahram Beyzaie
Venice Immersive
Venice Immersive Achievement Prize: The Long Goodbye by Victor Maes and Kate Voet
Special Jury Prize: Less Than 5gr of Saffron by Négar Motevalymeidanshah
Grand Prize: The Clouds Are Two Thousand Meters Up by Singing Chen and Shuping Lee
