The International Film Critics’ Week, the autonomous, parallel section organised by the National Union of Italian Film Critics and unfolding within the Venice Film Festival (now celebrating its 81st edition, running from 28 August-7 September), has announced the winners of its 39th edition.

The international jury, made up of Kerem Ayan, Yasmine Benkiran and Ariane Labed, has awarded the IWONDERFULL Grand Prize to Dương Diệu Linh’s Don’t Cry, Butterfly (read the review).

The plot revolves around Tam, a diligent wedding venue staffer who discovers her husband’s affair on live TV. Rather than confronting him, she enlists a powerful spell master to win back his love. Tam’s daughter, Ha, pours her frustration into vivid fantasies of a brighter future abroad. Meanwhile, a mysterious House Spirit, visible only to the women, lurks beneath their cracked, leaky ceiling.

The jury praised the feature’s uniqueness and creativity, which “mixes comedy, social drama and fantasy while depicting the complexities of a mother-daughter relationship”. The picture also scooped the Verona Film Club Prize. Meanwhile, Alexandra Simpson’s No Sleep Till [+lee también:
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Moreover, the Mario Serandrei Award for Best Technical Contribution went to Michael Premo’s Homegrown (read the review), whilst Milad Tangshir’s Anywhere Anytime [+lee también:
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Finally, the Prize for Best Short Film went to Marta Innocenti’s Things that My Best Friend Lost. The jury, made up of Giulia Achilli, Elena Ciofalo and Simone Bozzelli, commended “the emphatic bond built by the pic’s powerful characters through sound”. Francesco Manzato, the helmer of Nero Argento, got the gong for Best Director.

Here is the full list of this year’s winners:

Feature Film Competition

International Film Critics’ Week IWONDERFULL Grand Prize
Don’t Cry, Butterfly - Dương Diệu Linh (Vietnam/Singapore/Philippines/Indonesia)
Special Mention
No Sleep Till [+lee también:
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entrevista: Alexandra Simpson
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Short Film Competition

Best Short Film
Things that My Best Friend Lost - Marta Innocenti (Italy)

Best Director
Francesco Manzato - Nero Argento (Italy)

Best Technical Contribution
Marco Talarico - At Least I Will Be 8 294 400 Pixel (Italy)

Other awards

Verona Film Club Prize
Don’t Cry, Butterfly - Dương Diệu Linh

Mario Serandrei – Hotel Saturnia Prize for Best Technical Contribution
Homegrown – Michael Premo (USA)

THE FILM CLUB Audience Award
Paul & Paulette Take a Bath [+lee también:
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entrevista: Jethro Massey
ficha de la película] - Jethro Massey (UK)

Luciano Sovena Award for Best Independent Production
Anywhere Anytime [+lee también:
crítica
tráiler
entrevista: Milad Tangshir
ficha de la película] - Milad Tangshir (Italy)

FEDIC Award for Best Short Film
Playing God – Federico Burani (Italy)