Anuparna Roy becomes first Indian to win Best Director award in Orizzonti section at Venice Film Festival

Indian filmmaker Anuparna Roy made history at Venice Film Festival, winning the Best Director award in the Orizzonti section for Songs of Forgotten Trees.

Anuparna Roy makes history at Venice Film Festival

Anuparna Roy Becomes First Indian filmmaker to win Best Director in Orizzonti (ANI)

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, and highlights debut works, young talents, indie films and 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 went on to thank the jury, the cast, particularly Naaz Shaikh and Sumi Baghel, for bringing her story to life. The filmmaker also thanked Anurag Kashyap, who supported the film from the start and believed in its worth, despite its unconventional story. “I want to thank Anurag Kashyap, my producers, the cast, the crew, and 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… each one of you was amazing,” Anuparna said while accepting the award.

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While on stage, Anuparna Roy also took a moment to speak about Palestine, brining attention to the suffering of children there. “Every child deserves peace, freedom, and liberation, and Palestine is no exception,” she said adding, “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 as the filmmaker accepted that it is inspired by her own memories and observations of watching women juggle with urban life, friendship, and silent resistance. The film is produced by Bibhanshu Rai, Romil Modi, and Ranjan Singh, with Anurag Kashyap as presenter. This win makes Anuparna Roy the first Indian filmmaker to receive the Best Director award in the Orizzonti competition at Venice.

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Complete list of winners at 2025 Venice Film Festival

Main Competition

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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

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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

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