ITALY - A heart-wrenching docudrama about the Gaza war, a wrestling-themed love story starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and a darkly satirical South Korean thriller are among 21 films vying for the top prize at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday.

After 10 days of star-packed premieres and red-carpet thrills, the festival wraps up with the jury headed by American director Alexander Payne unveiling the best picture prize during a closing ceremony from 1700 GMT.

Measured by its impact on audiences, tear-jerking "The Voice of Hind Rajab" is a strong contender for the Golden Lion and would make a political statement against Israel's ongoing siege and bombardment of Gaza.

It is a dramatised re-telling of the ordeal of Hind Rajab Hamada, a five-year-old Palestinian girl trapped in a car with her dead relatives in January 2024 after they came under fire while fleeing Israeli troops in Gaza City.