Sep 12, 2009–Lebanon," a realistic look at war from inside a military tank by Israeli helmer Samuel Maoz, based on his own experience as a young soldier during his country’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon, took the 66th Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion.
"I dedicate this award to all those thousands of people all over the world who came back from the war, like me, safe and sound. Apparently they are fine. They walk; get married; have children. But inside them the memories will remain etched in their souls," said the visibly moved Maoz after receiving the Lion from jury president, director Ang Lee, a two-time Venice winner.
MAIN PRIZES OF THE 66TH VENICE FILM FESTIVAL
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION JURY
GOLDEN LION "Lebanon" (Samuel Maoz, Israel-France-Germany)
SILVER LION "Women Without Men" (Shirin Neshat, Germany-Austria-France)
GRAND JURY PRIZE "Soul Kitchen" (Fatih Akin, Germany)
ACTOR Colin Firth ("A Single Man," Tom Ford, US)
ACTRESS Ksenia Rappoport ("The Double Hour," Giuseppe Capotondi, Italy)
MARCELLO MASTROIANNI PRIZE FOR YOUNG PERFORMER Jasmine Trinca ("The Big Dream," Michele Placido, Italy)
BEST SCREENPLAY Todd Solondz
("Life During Wartime," Todd Solondz, US)
TECHNICAL CONTRIBUTION for Set Design Sylvie Olive ("Mr Nobody," Jaco Van Dormael, France)
OTHER JURIES
LUIGI DE LAURENTIIS LION OF THE FUTURE "Engkwentro," (Pepe Diokno, Philippines)
VENICE HORIZONS "Engkwentro" (Pepe Diokno, Philippines)
VENICE HORIZONS DUCUMENTARY "1428," (Du Haibin, (China)
VENICE HORIZONS SPECIAL MENTION "The Man’s Woman And Other Stories," (Amit Dutta, India)
