The fall film festival season is upon us, with the 92nd Venice International Film Festival having just wrapped up and the 50th Toronto International Film Festival kicking off this weekend.
The industry leverages these events to celebrate the movies and showcase the new work of its leading filmmakers and stars. The highest profile festivals include a week or more of red-carpet premieres and star appearances, covered extensively by the press. They are also a backdrop for negotiations between movie producers and distributors, with deals on distribution being widely reported.
This year’s winner of Venice’s Golden Lion award as the best film was Jim Jarmusch’s FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER, starring Cate Blanchett, Adam Driver, Mayim Bialik, Tom Waits, and Charlotte Rampling. Benny Safdie won the Silver Lion for Best Director for THE SMASHING MACHINE, starring Dwayne Johnson in a thoughtful portrayal of a mixed martial arts fighter. In their festival recap, The Film Verdict hailed this year’s Venice as one of its best gatherings in years, with the tone of many titles reflecting the uncertainty of the current moment on the world stage.
FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER will be distributed by Mubi with a U.S. premiere starting on December 24th. THE SMASHING MACHINE will be distributed by A24, with a U.S. premiere date of October 3rd.
See also: TIFF 2025 Hot List: Movies with Chris Evans, Sydney Sweeney, Angelina Jolie & Vince Vaughn Raise Hopes as New Buyers Arrive on the Scene (Deadline)











