Alexander Sokurov’s take on FAUST has won the top prize at this year’s Venice Film Festival. The film, based on the classic tale about a scholar who sells his soul to the devil, picked up the Golden Lion at the Italian festival on Saturday.
Head of the jury Darren Aronofsky told the BBC: “There are some films that make you cry, there are some films that make you laugh, there are some films that change you forever after you see them; and this is one of them.”
Irish actor Michael Fassbender picked up the award for best actor for his work in SHAME from director Steve McQueen, a work in which he plays a sex addict, while Deanie Yip won best actress for her role in Hong Kong’s A SIMPLE LIFE.
The UK was also represented in the category for best cinematography where Robbie Ryan picked up the award for WUTHERING HEIGHTS.
Here are the winners in full.
Golden Lion for Best Film
Faust – dir. Aleksander Sokurov (Russia)
Silver Lion for Best Director
Shangjun Cai for People Mountain People Sea (China)
Special Jury Prize
Terraferma – dir. Emanuele Crialese (Italy)
Best First Feature
Là-Bas – dir. Guido Lombardi (Italy)
Best Actress
Deanie Yip for A Simple Life (Hong Kong)
Best Actor
Michael Fassbender for Shame (UK)
Emerging Performer
Shota Sometani and Fumi Nikaido for Himizu (Japan)
Best Screenplay
Alps (Alpis) by Yorgos Lanthimos (Greece)
Best Cinematography
Robbie Ryan for Wuthering Heights – dir. Andrea Arnold (UK)
Source: BBC
