The Biennale di Venezia has announced that acclaimed American filmmaker Gus Van Sant will be honored with the Campari Passion for Film Award during the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, running from August 27 to September 6, 2025, on the Lido.
The award ceremony will take place on September 2 at 9:30 p.m. in the Sala Grande of the Palazzo del Cinema, ahead of the out-of-competition premiere of his latest film, Dead Man’s Wire, starring Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery, Colman Domingo, Cary Elwes, Myha’la, and Al Pacino.
Created by Campari in collaboration with the festival’s artistic direction, the award celebrates film professionals who turn passion into an innovative creative force. Unlike a lifetime achievement honor, it recognizes artistic courage and the ability to leave an indelible mark on the language of cinema.
Dead Man’s Wire (2025) revisits the chilling real-life case of Anthony G. “Tony” Kiritsis, a former real estate promoter who, in 1977, held a bank executive hostage in Indianapolis. The film is produced by Elevated with a screenplay by Austin Kolodney.
“I’m truly honored to receive the Passion for Film award,” said Van Sant. “My heartfelt thanks to Campari for this recognition — it means a great deal to me. I’m grateful not only for their acknowledgement of my work, but also for their support of one of the world’s great institutions of cinema celebration and exhibition. It’s a privilege to be part of this tradition, and I deeply appreciate the passion they bring to film” .
Festival director Alberto Barbera praised Van Sant’s singular career, calling him “a unique filmmaker in the landscape of contemporary cinema, who combines a deeply independent perspective with a remarkable ability to connect with audiences“. “His cinema moves freely between the Hollywood system and the circuits of cinéma d’essai, engaging with industry rules without ever being constrained by them, and remaining true to a bold and ever-evolving personal vision.”
The Campari Passion for Film Award has previously honored figures including editor Bob Murawski, composer Terence Blanchard, and costume designer Arianne Phillips. Van Sant joins their ranks four decades after his debut with Mala Noche (1985) and following landmark films such as Drugstore Cowboy (1989), My Own Private Idaho (1991), Good Will Hunting (1997), Elephant (2003) — winner of the Palme d’Or in Cannes — and Milk (2008), which earned eight Academy Award nominations.