Russian director Alexander Sokurov’s “Faust,” a retelling of the Goethe tragedy, is the winner of the 68th Venice Film Festival’ s Golden Lion.
The Silver Lion went to Chinese Cai Shangjun’s “People Mountain People Sea,” the fest’s surprise movie.
Venice’s Special Jury Prize for best director went to Italo helmer Emanuele Crialese for his “Terraferma,” about African boat people in Italy.
The Best Actor nod went to Michael Fassbender for his powerful perf as a sex addict in British artist/helmer Steve McQueen’s “Shame.” A fest fave, “Shame” had been considered a top contender for the Lido lion.
The best actress prize went to Hong Kong’s Deanie Yip for her role as an aging domestic helmer in Hong Kong helmer Ann Hui’s moving “A Simple Life.”
Greek helmer Yorgos Lanthimos and his co-scripter Eftimis Filippou took the screenplay prize for “Alps.”
“Wuthering Heights” by Andrea Arnold scooped the cinematography for lenser Robbie Ryan.
The Marcello Mastroianna prize for best young actor(s) went to Shota Sometani and Fumi Nikaido for Japanese drama “Himizu” by Sion Sono.
The Lion of the Future for best first work went to Italian helmer Guido Lombardi’s “La Bas. A Criminal Education.”
