TORONTO – Benny Safdie says winning the Silver Lion for best director at the Venice Film Festival over the weekend has given him some extra juice.
The moviemaker is at the Toronto International Film Festival for the North American premiere of his solo directorial debut, “The Smashing Machine,” which he wrote and directed.
The gritty biopic follows a period in the life of mixed martial artist and Ultimate Fighting Championship pioneer Mark Kerr, as he faces trials and tribulations in the ring and struggles with opioid addiction at home.
“The Smashing Machine” stars actor and wrestler Dwayne Johnson as Kerr, while actress Emily Blunt portrays his then-wife Dawn Staples.
Both actors have received critical praise for their transformations in the roles, which has placed them in the race for awards season.
For Safdie, helming a movie alone was a new experience, since he’s mostly worked alongside his brother Josh on critically acclaimed films that include Adam Sandler thriller “Uncut Gems.”
He says his win on Saturday in Venice “enlivened” him ahead of the Toronto premiere on Monday night.
“The Smashing Machine” rolls into cinemas in October.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 8, 2025.
