The 81st Venice Film Festival, a dazzling return to form after a quieter 2023 edition, crowned Pedro Almodóvar’s “The Room Next Door” with the prestigious Golden Lion. Nicole Kidman, in a powerful performance in “Babygirl”, secured the Volpi Cup for Best Actress, further solidifying her Oscar prospects. The festival also saw standout performances, including Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist” winning the Silver Lion for Best Director, and Déa Kulumbegashvili’s “April” garnering a Special Jury Prize.