The big film festivals and their top prizes
Europe's Big Three festivals each have an animal or plant prize; Toronto's awards are chosen by the audience and a jury.
What the paper can ask
- Venice is the oldest festival in the world (1932), part of the Venice Biennale; the Volpi Cup is its acting prize.
- Cannes's top prize has been awarded under its present name since 1955; the Berlinale, held in February, is the youngest of the three (first held 1951).
- Toronto (TIFF) has no competition jury for its main award: the People's Choice Award is voted by the audience.
Latest
The 83rd Venice festival (2 to 12 September 2026, jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal) gave its top prize to Woman Unknown; Mathilde Arcel and John Malkovich won the Volpi Cups.
Why exams ask
Questions match a prize to its festival, or ask which Indian film won at Toronto, Venice or Cannes this year.
The full story
The 'Big Three' film festivals are Venice (the world's oldest, founded 1932, held late August to September on the Lido), Cannes (France, May) and Berlin (February). Their top prizes are a golden palm, a golden bear and a golden lion. Venice also gives the Volpi Cup for acting. The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF, September) gives a People's Choice Award and a juried Platform Prize. Satyajit Ray and Mira Nair have won Venice's top prize.