Culture 3 min read By Trevor Kendall
Venice 2026: 'Diana in the Loop' Wins Orizzonti as Festival Honors Jeremy Thomas
The Venice Film Festival has begun unveiling its 2026 awards, with Ann Sirot and Raphaël Balboni's 'Diana in the Loop' taking Best Film in the Orizzonti sidebar. The festival is also paying tribute to the late British producer Jeremy Thomas, who died Friday at 77.
The Venice Film Festival has begun announcing its 2026 winners, with the first prizes awarded in the Orizzonti sidebar, the Immersive Competition, and Venice Classics. The festival's top honor, the Golden Lion for best film, is still to be revealed.
In the Orizzonti section, Best Film went to «Diana in the Loop», directed by Ann Sirot and Raphaël Balboni. The film follows a young woman who decides to avenge the rape of her mother, an assault that took place three years before the story begins. The prize establishes the Belgian filmmaking duo as a significant presence at this year's festival.
The awards ceremony is unfolding against a backdrop of mourning and tribute for Jeremy Thomas, the legendary British producer who died Friday at the age of 77. Tributes have poured in from across the film world, with colleagues remembering him as a filmmaker «full of stories» and a «rebel with taste.» Producer and publisher Charles Finch said Thomas «made great movies and was a loyal, dear friend,» noting that Thomas's father, Ralph, had made a film with Finch's father, Peter, called «No Love.» The outpouring of respect reflects Thomas's long career and the esteem in which he was held by peers and collaborators.
Last year's Venice awards offer a point of comparison for this year's competition. Jim Jarmusch took home the Golden Lion for his family triptych «Father Mother Sister Brother,» while Benny Safdie won the Silver Lion for best director for «The Smashing Machine,» starring Dwayne Johnson. Kaouther Ben Hania also figured among the previous year's honorees. The 2026 edition is expected to continue that tradition of high-profile recognition as the remaining prizes are announced.
The Orizzonti sidebar is dedicated to films that push the boundaries of contemporary cinema, often spotlighting emerging directors and unconventional narratives. «Diana in the Loop» fits that mandate, combining a revenge story with a family trauma that unfolds across time. The Immersive Competition and Venice Classics awards were also revealed alongside the Orizzonti prizes, though full details of those winners were still being updated.
The Golden Lion for best film remains the festival's most anticipated award, and its recipient will be announced as the event continues. Venice has long served as a launching pad for the international film season, and this year's winners will shape the conversation around global cinema in the months ahead.
