VPB-supported films shine at Venice, Toronto and enter Oscar race
The Venice Production Bridge extends its congratulations to the VPB-backed films presented at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival and Toronto Film Festival, along with the films nominated to represent their country in the race to the Academy Awards 2026.
This year, the Venice Production Bridge is delighted to acknowledge that two films presented at project stage at the Venice Gap-Financing Market in 2024 already returned to the Venice International Film Festival as completed films in 2025.
THE SOUFFLEUR by Gastón Solnicki, starring Willem Dafoe, celebrated its world premiere in the Orizzonti competition on August 31. This Austrian-Argentinian co-production by Little Magnet Films, Filmy Wiktora, Primo, and KGP Filmproduktion is being sold worldwide by Magnify. Revolver & Madison Group will distribute the film in Italian cinemas in 2026, while Filmladen will release it in Austria.
LAST NIGHT I CONQUERED THE CITY OF THEBES by Gabriel Azorín, held its world premiere in the Giornate degli Autori sidebar on September 2. This Spanish-Portuguese co-production by DVEIN Films, Filmika Galaika, and Bando à Parte has its international sales managed by MoreThan Films and will be released in Spanish cinemas by Begin Again Films.
Both films were acclaimed by audiences and critics alike and have already secured invitations to several other festivals this autumn.
At Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), three VPB-supported projects were selected and held their world premieres at the start of September.
AMOEBA by Siyou Tan, presented at the Venice Gap-Financing Market in 2024, premiered in the Discovery strand of Toronto on September 9. The film was produced by Akanga Film Asia, and Volya Films, Les Films d’Antoine, Mararía Films and The Widelog Office. Sales are handled by Diversion.
HEN by György Pálfi, premiered on September 8 as part of the Platform section of Toronto. In 2023, the project was presented at the Venice Gap-Financing Market. The film was produced by Pallas Film, View Master Films and Twenty Twenty Vision. Lucky Number are handling world sales.
PALESTINE 36 by Annemarie Jacir, premiered in Toronto on September 5 as a Gala Presentation. In 2023, the project, then titled All Before You, was presented at the Venice Gap-Financing Market. The film was produced by Philistine Films, with Autonomous , Corniche Media, MK Productions and Snowglobe acting as co-producers. mk2 and Lucky Number are handling international sales.
The film has been selected for many other festivals over the coming months and is set to be released theatrically in several countries, including the United Kingdom and France.
It has also been selected as the Palestinian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards and we congratulate Annemarie Jacir and producer Ossama Bawardi on their incredible success.
Additionally, we extend our congratulations to director Diego Céspedes and producers Giancarlo Nasi of Quijote Films, along with Justin Pechberty and Damien Megherbi of Les Valseurs and sales agents Charades, for the selection of their film THE MYSTERIOUS GAZE OF THE FLAMINGO as Chile's official nomination to represent the country in the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards in 2026. The film won the Un Certain Regard Grand Prix at Cannes earlier this year and has since been presented at numerous festivals worldwide.
