76th VENICE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - The Lion

The spot was the opening title sequence of the Festival Ceremony 

Working on *The Golden Lion* for the 76th Venice Film Festival was an incredible challenge and a profound honor. As the highest accolade awarded at the festival, *The Golden Lion* represents the pinnacle of achievement for any film’s production team and cast—a symbol of excellence and aspiration in cinema.
Our task was to create a masterpiece worthy of this prestigious award, something that not only celebrated its legacy but left a lasting impression on everyone who encountered it. We aimed to craft a piece so striking and memorable that it would become a topic of conversation and a timeless emblem of cinematic artistry.

Creating a 3D lion meant starting from scratch, meticulously building it from its bones and muscles outward. We envisioned this majestic creature striding through the streets of Venice, its powerful presence commanding attention, until it reaches the stage of the theater. There, with a dramatic flourish, it unfurls its wings, ready to take flight. We quite literally flexed its "muscles" to bring this vision to life!
We’re also proud to highlight that this extraordinary 3D work, created for RAI and the Venice BIENNALE, earned 3  Gold CLIO Awards, one of the most prestigious honors in the advertising world, held annually in Los Angeles. It’s a testament to the creativity and innovation behind this project.

Director: Devlin Prager
DOP: Ricky Topazio
Editor: Marcello Sanna
Colorist: Orash Rahnema
Executive Producer: Francisco Baggetta
Post Production Coordinator: Clive B.
Post Production: Lightcut Film
Vfx Supervisor/Vfx Producer: Massimo Cipollina 
Lead/Creature TD: Marco Panci 3D
Lighter: Alessandro Bandinelli
Lead Animator/Animation Supervisor: Gianluca Fratellini
Grooming: Francesco Di Luisi - Sofia Oliveira
Fur simulation/Lookdev: Grzegorz Flaga
Texture Artist: Marianna Giugno
Lead Compositor: Maura Manfredi
Compositor: Gianni Melito, Nicolò Terranova

MUSIC COMPOSER:
Nicholas Britell
Original Music: "MOONLIGHT" MUSIC COMPOSED BY NICHOLAS BRITELL
COURTESY OF LAKE GEORGE ENTERTAINMENT LLC AND A24

2019