Italian Director Tommaso Usberti’s Toxic Masculinity Drama ‘Before the War’ Scores Top Venice Critics’ Week Prize

Italian-French director Tommaso Usberti won the Grand Prize and best producer award at the 41st Venice International Film Critics Week for his film Before the War. The romance and coming-of-age tale examines racism and toxic masculinity within the Northern Italian plains. Additionally, director Shalini Adnani received the Audience Award for the family drama Our Share of Sand, which focuses on environmental crisis and inequality. Before the War served as the sole Italian entry in the competition.