In 1987, the Venice Film Festival introduced a prize that would eventually disappear from its own history, leaving behind only a scattered trail of winners and a single studio that broke the rules. The Golden Osella was born from a tradition dating back to the 15th century, when the Doges of Venice distributed silver medallions to distinguished citizens of the Republic. These osella medals bore unique engravings, often featuring the Doge's likeness or scenes from Venetian life, symbolizing the recipient's esteemed place in the city. The festival's organizing committee sought to honor this legacy by creating an award that recognized excellence across a wide spectrum of cinematic fields, including direction, screenplay, cinematography, production design, costume design, music score, and editing. Yet, unlike the prestigious Golden Lion, the Golden Osella was awarded irregularly, appearing sporadically until 2012, when it was quietly retired and replaced by a different format. The first recipients included Luciano Ricceri, Nana Cecchi, Sten Holmberg, David Mamet, and Richard Robbins, who were honored for their work in The Gold Rimmed Glasses, Hip Hip Hurrah!, House of Games, and Maurice. Over the decades, the official festival jury selected recipients based on films in the main competition, but the award's inconsistent presence created a sense of mystery around its purpose and significance.
The Decade of Silence
From 1999 to 2003, the Golden Osella fell silent, vanishing from the festival's roster for five consecutive years. During this period, no Golden Osella was presented, although screenplay awards were still given to One Hundred Steps in 2000 and Y tu mamá también in 2001, with technical awards going to Far from Heaven in 2002 and Good Morning, Night in 2003. The absence of the award during these years left a gap in the festival's history, raising questions about why such a distinguished prize would be suspended. When the Golden Osella was reintroduced in 2004, it came with a twist: a Special Golden Osella was presented to Studio Ghibli for Howl's Moving Castle, marking the only occasion that the award was given to a production studio rather than an individual. This decision highlighted the award's flexibility and its ability to recognize collective achievements, but it also underscored the award's irregular nature. The silence of the 1990s and early 2000s created a sense of unpredictability, making each appearance of the Golden Osella a rare and celebrated event. The award's eventual retirement in 2012 marked the end of an era, with a screenplay award presented in a traditional format as a metal lion, distinct from the osella, signaling a shift in the festival's approach to recognizing cinematic excellence.The Women Who Shaped the Award