Jacqueline Lentzou wins Best Director at Venice Film Festival

Greek director Jacqueline Lentzou has won the Best Director award in the Orizzonti section at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival for her second feature film, ‘A Day in the Life of Jo: Phaedra Chapter’.

During her acceptance speech, Lentzou spoke about the increasing difficulties of producing independent cinema and the personal risks involved in her work. She noted that the film was inspired by a real incident in Athens involving the killing of 15-year-old Alexis Grigoropoulos by a police officer, using the platform to state, ‘Stop killing children.’

In addition to the directing prize, the film also received the Edipo Re 2026 Inclusion and Sustainability Award, presented by an independent committee to productions that approach social and environmental issues through an inclusive lens.