Silver Lion


The Silver Lion is an annual award presented for best directing achievements in a feature film in the official competition section of the Venice Film Festival since 1998.
The prize has been awarded irregularly and has gone through several changes of purpose. Between 1953 and 1994, the award was given infrequently to a number of films as second prize for those nominated for the Golden Lion. At various times, the Silver Lion has also been awarded for debut films, short films, direction, and writing.
Since 1990, the Silver Lion has been presented to the director of a feature film in the official competition; Martin Scorsese was the first official winner of the award for Goodfellas, while Benny Safdie is the most recent winner for The Smashing Machine in 2025. Andrei Konchalovsky is the only person to receive the award twice.

Silver Lion for Best Direction (1990–present)

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Multiple Winners

The following individuals received two or more Silver Lion for Best Direction awards:
Number of WinsDirectorNationalityFilms
2Andrei KonchalovskyRussiaThe Postman's White Nights and Paradise

Defunct Categories

Silver Lion Prize (1953–1994)

From 1953 to 1957, the Silver Lion was awarded to a number of films nominated for the Golden Lion as a second prize. From 1987 to 1994, the Silver Lion was awarded to one or more films nominated for the Golden Lion.

Silver Lion for Best First Work (1981–1982)

Silver Lion for Best First Film (1983–1987)

Silver Lion for Best Screenplay (1990)

Silver Lion for Best Short Film (1996–2007)

Silver Lion for Revelation (2006)