# Venice Critics' Week crowns 'Before the War'

> An Italian debut about provincial rage took the top prize at Venice's independent sidebar.
- Title: Venice Critics' Week crowns 'Before the War' | Shortify
- Summary: An Italian debut about provincial rage took the top prize at Venice's independent sidebar. Tommaso Usberti's 'Before the War' won the Grand Prize for Best…
- Keywords: venice, film festivals, italian cinema, awards, critics week, Critics', Week, crowns, 'Before, War', The Hollywood Reporter
- Source: The Hollywood Reporter — https://hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/venice-critics-week-awards-tommaso-usberti-before-the-war-1236697571
- Author: Lily Ford
- Published: 2026-09-11T17:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: venice, film festivals, italian cinema, awards, critics week
## A parallel Venice
The 41st Venice International Film Critics' Week runs alongside the main festival, with its own slate and its own jury.
## Who runs it
The section is organized by the Italian National Film Critics Union, which gives it a curatorial voice independent of the festival proper.
## The Grand Prize winner
Tommaso Usberti's Italian film 'Before the War' (Prima della guerra) took the Grand Prize for Best Film.
## Why the jury picked it
They praised the direction and the lead actor, calling the performance powerful and expressive and the filmmaking intense.

> for its intense and vibrant direction, for the powerful and expressive talent of its lead actor
## Bodies and faces as tension
The citation singled out the mise-en-scene: crafted images where physical gesture does the dramatic work, set in a provincial Italy of violent passions.

> bodies, faces and gestures create an impressive physical tension
## The three deciders
French director Chloe Barreau, Hungarian producer Julia Berkes and industry professional Caterina Mazzucato made up the jury.
## Key takeaway

Tommaso Usberti's 'Before the War' won the Grand Prize for Best Film at the 41st Venice Critics' Week.