The 66th Venice International Film Festival concluded with the presentation of the Golden Lion Award for best film to Lebanon by Samuel MAOZ (Israel, France, Germany). The festival ran 2nd to 12th September 2009.

The Venezia 66 Jury, chaired by Ang Lee and comprised of Sandrine Bonnaire, Liliana Cavani, Joe Dante, Anurag Kashyap, Luciano Ligabue, Sergei Bodrov, having viewed all twenty-five films in competition, has decided as follows:

Silver Lion for Best Director to: Shirin NESHAT for the film Zanan Bedone Mardan (Women Without Men) (Germany, Austria, France)

Special Jury Prize to: Soul Kitchen by Fatih AKIN (Germany)

Coppa Volpi for Best Actor: Colin FIRTH in the film A Single Man by Tom FORD (USA)

Coppa Volpi for Best Actress: Ksenia RAPPOPORTin the film La doppia ora by Giuseppe CAPOTONDI (Italy)

Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor or Actress: Jasmine TRINCAin the film Il grande sogno by Michele PLACIDO (Italy)

Osella for Best Production Designer to: Sylvie OLIVÉfor the film Mr. Nobody by Jaco VAN DORMAEL (France)

Osella for Best Screenplay to: Todd SOLONDZ for the film Life during Wartime by Todd SOLONDZ (USA)



LION OF THE FUTURE – “LUIGI DE LAURENTIIS” VENICE AWARD FOR A DEBUT FILM

Lion of the Future – “Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award for a Debut Film Jury at the 66th Venice Film Festival, Venezia Opera Prima Prize comprised of Haile Gerima (President), Ramin Bahrani, Gianni Di Gregorio, Antoine Fuqua, Sam Taylor Wood, has unanimously decided to award the Lion of the Future to: Engkwentro by Pepe DIOKNO (Philippines) as well as a prize of 100,000 USD, donated by Filmauro, to be divided equally between director and producer



CONTROCAMPO ITALIANO PRIZE (Italian reverse shot Award)

The Controcampo Italiano Prize Jury at the 66th Venice Film Festival, comprised of Carlo Lizzani (President), Giulio Questi, Marina Sanna, has unanimously decided to award the following:



Controcampo Italiano Prize to:

Cosmonauta by Susanna NICCHIARELLI (Italy)

“for its ability to recall a crucial moment of the twentieth century through the eyes of a young girl”



Kodak will offer to the awarded director 40,000 euros in negative film stock - 35 or 16mm, chosen by the winner - to shoot a new feature film.



Special Mention to: Negli occhi by Daniele ANZELLOTTI and Francesco DEL GROSSO (Italy)



The Orizzonti (Horizon Award)66 Jury, comprised of Pere Portabella (Spain) President, Gina Kim (Korea), Bady Minck (Luxembourg), Garin Nugroho Riyanto (Indonesia) and Gianfranco Rosi (Italy)has decided as follows:

Orizzonti Prize to Engkwentro by Pepe Diokno (Philippines)

Orizzonti Prize for Best documentary to 1428 by DU Haibin (China)

Special Mention to Aadmi ki aurat aur anya kahaniya (The Man’s Woman and Other Stories) by Amit Dutta (India)



The Jury of Corto Cortissimo (The Short Film Award) comprised of Stuart Gordon (USA) President, Steve Ricci (USA), Sitora Alieva (Russia) awarded the following:

Corto Cortissimo Lion for Best Short Film to Eersgeborene (First Born) by Etienne Kallos (South Africa, USA)

Venice Nomination to the European Film Awards 2009 to Sinner by Meni Philip (Israel)

Special Mention to Felicità by Salomé Aleksi (Georgia)



Persol 3-D Award was presented by a Jury of two film critics and a filmmaker. Scott Foundas (USA), Dave Kehr (USA), and Nadia Ranocchi (Italy). The Persol 3-D Award for the Best 3-D Stereoscopic