‘Il Nibbio’ named Best Film at the 65th edition of Italy’s Globo d’Oro awards

In the solemn setting of the Sala della Protomoteca on Capitoline Hill, the institutional heart of Rome, the awards ceremony for the 65th edition of the Globo d’Oro took place. The prestigious prize is presented by the Foreign Press Association in Italy to honor the best of the year’s Italian film production.

Hosted by radio presenter Betty Senatore, the evening opened with the award for Best Short Film, which went to Chloe by Matthias Salzburger. Set in a somber, silent Venice, the short delicately portrays the experiences of migrants in search of a dignified life, offering a poetic and deeply human perspective on a dramatic reality.

For Best TV Series, the foreign press honored The Art of Joy directed by Valeria Golino, a powerful and visually refined work that, through the portrait of a non-conventional heroine, offers an intense and original view of Italian society.

The award for Best Documentary went to Il mestiere di vivere by Giovanna Gagliardo, an emotional journey into the life and writings of Cesare Pavese, a film produced by Cinecittà. “This is another prestigious award for Luce Cinecittà productions, which reflects our commitment to creating stories that use the language of cinema to portray key figures from our cultural life,” said Enrico Bufalini, Director of Archivio Luce and Documentary Production at Cinecittà.
Il mestiere di vivere is a film suitable both for general audiences and educational contexts, from schools to universities. “A special commendation goes to Giovanna Gagliardo, who found the right narrative key to immerse viewers in the emotions and inner struggles of the man Cesare Pavese.”

The newly established “Green Globe,” introduced this year to promote environmental themes, was awarded to Come se non ci fosse un domani by Riccardo Cremona and Matteo Keffer, a film that sensitively portrays the activism of younger generations and the urgent issue of climate change. The award for Best First Feature went to Ciao bambino by Edgardo Pistone, a visually powerful black-and-white film that balances rawness and poetry to depict a reality often left unseen. In the Young Talent category, the award was given to Beatrice Barison, a breakout actress who conveyed with both gentleness and intensity the transition from music to acting, in a complex and mature role.

One of the most anticipated and emotional moments of the evening was the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to master filmmaker Pupi Avati, who has had a career spanning over forty years. The award honors his distinctive style, his ability to work across genres, and the profound impact of his work on Italian cinematic culture. The Foreign Press Grand Prize was awarded to Isabella Rossellini, one of the most iconic figures in world cinema. A woman of rare elegance and talent, Rossellini embodies the very essence of film culture, who greeted the audience with a heartfelt video message.

The award for Best Comedy went to U.S. Palmese by the Manetti Bros., recognized for its ability to tell a story full of dreams and irony, blending humor with a strong sense of humanity. The Best Original Score award went to Federico De’ Robertis for Naples to New York. His music was praised for its evocative and profound quality, enriching the narrative with both lyricism and authenticity.

Best Cinematography was awarded to Maurizio Calvesi for L’abbaglio, a visually striking film that depicts the story of Garibaldi’s Thousand with images full of light and memory, in perfect harmony with the Sicilian landscape it portrays. Barbora Bobulova was named Best Actress for her performance in Per il mio bene, in which she plays a woman searching for her roots and identity.

Best Actor went to Claudio Santamaria for Il Nibbio, in which he portrayed, with deep humanity and sensitivity, a character inspired by Nicola Calipari, the Italian intelligence officer who died in the line of duty, commemorated twenty years after his passing. The award for Best Screenplay went to The Tasters, written by Doriana Leondeff, Silvio Soldini, Cristina Comencini, Giulia Calenda, Ilaria Macchia, and Lucio Ricca, who told the true story of the German women forced to serve as Hitler’s personal food tasters.

Gabriele Mainetti received the Globo d’Oro for Best Director for La città proibita, confirming his original and universal cinematic vision, capable of transporting viewers into a fantastical yet deeply human world. Finally, the evening’s most coveted award, Best Film, was presented to Il Nibbio by Alessandro Tonda, recognized for the courage with which it brought to the screen a recent story that still resonates in the collective memory.