The Brian Award (in Italian: Premio Brian) is the award given since 2006 to “a film that highlights and enhances the values of rationality, respect for human rights, democracy, pluralism, promotion of individuality, freedom of conscience, expression and research, the principle of equal opportunities in public institutions for all citizens, without the frequent distinctions based on sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious or philosophical stands” among those presented during the Venice International Film Festival.[1]
The "Brian Award" was inspired by the name of the Monty Python's satire movie Life of Brian.The award initially took the form of a golden globe with glass balls inside, created by the Italian jeweler-artist Giovanni Corvaja. Later, it was a transparent plaque bearing the award's logo.The award was established by the Italian Union of Rationalist Atheists and Agnostics[2] [3] (member of Humanists International).
| Year | Winner | Director | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Dark Blue Almost Black | Daniel Sánchez Arévalo | Spain | |
| 2007 | Sympathy for the Lobster | Sabina Guzzanti | Italy | |
| 2008 | Khastegi | Bahman Motamedian | Iran | |
| 2009 | Lourdes | Jessica Hausner | Austria | |
| 2010 | Lost Kisses | Roberta Torre | Italy | |
| 2011 | The Ides of March | George Clooney | United States | |
| 2012 | Dormant Beauty | Marco Bellocchio | Italy | |
| 2013 | Philomena | Stephen Frears | United Kingdom | |
| 2014 | The Farewell Party | Tal Granit Sharon Maymon | Israel | |
| 2015 | Spotlight | Tom McCarthy | United States | |
| 2016 | Worldly Girl | Marco Danieli | Italy | |
| 2017 | The Blessed | Sofia Djama | France | |
| 2018 | On My Skin | Alessio Cremonini | Italy | |
| 2019 | The Perfect Candidate | Haifaa Al Mansour | Saudia Arabia | |
| 2020 | Quo Vadis, Aida? | Jasmila Žbanić | Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
| 2021 | Happening | Audrey Diwan | France | |
| 2022 | The Lord of the Ants | Gianni Amelio | Italy | |
| 2023 | Tatami | Guy Nattiv, Zar Amir Ebrahimi | Georgia, United States |