Core Points - The 82nd Venice International Film Festival concluded on September 6, 2023, with Chinese actress Xin Zhilei winning the Best Actress award for her performance in "Day Hanging in the Sky," making her the second Chinese actress to achieve this honor after Gong Li and the first "post-80s" actress from China to win at one of the three major European film festivals [1][3] - Xin Zhilei expressed her gratitude and pride in her achievement, encouraging others to pursue their dreams boldly [3] - The film "Day Hanging in the Sky," directed by Cai Shangjun, focuses on the fate of ordinary people and features a slow narrative with strong performances [3] Film Industry Insights - The festival showcased a variety of films, with notable entries including "The Girl," directed by Shu Qi, which received positive reviews but did not win any awards [4] - The festival's top honor, the Golden Lion, was awarded to "Brother and Sister" directed by Jim Jarmusch, while the Jury Grand Prize went to "The Voice of Hind al-Rajab" [5][6] - The competition was described as "unfair" by the jury president Alexander Payne, highlighting the difficulty in selecting winners from a strong lineup of 21 films [6] - Other notable awards included Best Newcomer for "Silent Friends," Best Actor for Toni Servillo in "Grace," and Best Screenplay for "The Pen" directed by Valérie Donzelli [7]

Core Viewpoint - The 82nd Venice International Film Festival is facing pressure from filmmakers and cultural figures to take a clear stance against the "genocide and ethnic cleansing" in Gaza, as highlighted in an open letter signed by hundreds of individuals in the film industry [1][2]. Group 1 - The open letter was initiated by the international organization V4P (Venice for Palestine) and was sent to the festival's organizing body, urging it to provide a platform for dialogue and resistance rather than becoming a "sad and hollow" event [1]. - Notable signatories of the letter include acclaimed filmmakers and actors such as Ken Loach, Paolo Sorrentino, and Alice Rohrwacher, emphasizing the collective call for action from the film community [1]. - The letter also mentions that nearly 250 Palestinian media workers have been killed since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict, urging the festival to host events focused on Palestinian themes to raise awareness [2]. Group 2 - The Venice Biennale responded by affirming its historical commitment to addressing sensitive social and global issues through film, citing examples of films that tackle these themes [2]. - The festival is scheduled to take place from August 27 to September 6, 2025, with additional calls for a public protest against genocide on August 30 by another Italian arts organization [2].