'Lebanon' takes Golden Lion at Venice Festival
Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 10:58PM | By
Franck Tabouring 
Samuel Maoz's war drama "Lebanon" took the top prize at the 66th Venice Film Festival Saturday as the film received the prestigious Golden Lion. The film is set during the 1982 Lebanon war and focuses on crew members out on a mission in a tank.
The Silver Lion went to Shirin Neshat's drama "Zanan-e bedun-e mardan" (Women Without Men), a film about the destinies of four women affected by Iran's 1953 CIA-backed coup d'état.
Meanwhile, Fatih Akin's comedy "Soul Kitchen" took home the Grand Jury Prize. Colin Firth was named best actor for his role in Tom Ford's drama "A Single Man," while Ksenia Rappoport won in the category of best actress for "The Double Hour."
Todd Solondz won the prize for best screenplay for "Life During Wartime," and Jasmine Trinca earned the Marcello Mastroianni Prize for Young Performer. Joe Dante's "The Hole" won the Persol 3-D Award.
Other winners at this year's Venice Festival:
Technial Contribution: Sylvie Olive for "Mr. Nobody"
Orizzonti Prize and Lion of the Future: "Engkwentro" by Pepe Diokno
Orizzonti Prize Documentary: "1428"
Special Mention: "The Man’s Woman And Other Stories"







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