Anuparna Roy Wins Best Director at Venice

On 7th September 2025, Indian filmmaker Anuparna Roy won the Best Director award in the Orizzonti section of the 82nd Venice Film Festival for her film Songs of Forgotten Trees, making it a landmark moment for Indian independent cinema.

Anuparna Roy’s Songs of Forgotten Trees was the only Indian entry in the Orizzonti category, which is dedicated to showcasing innovative and independent films from across the world.
The film narrates the struggles and resilience of two migrant women in Mumbai, weaving together themes of displacement, identity, and survival in an urban setting.
The award was announced by French filmmaker Julia Ducournau, who served as the president of the Orizzonti jury at this year’s Venice Film Festival.
Veteran U.S. filmmaker Jim Jarmusch received the festival’s highest honour, the Golden Lion for Best Film, for Father Mother Sister Brother, a layered exploration of family dynamics and generational tensions across New Jersey, Dublin, and Paris.