The 65th annual Venice International Film Festival, held in

Venice Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges. The isla ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

, was opened on 27 August 2008 by ''

Burn After Reading ''Burn After Reading'' is a 2008 black comedy spy film written, produced, edited and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. It follows a recently jobless CIA analyst, Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich) whose misplaced memoirs are found by a pair of dimwitte ...

'',"Venice seeks role as Oscars springboard", Ninemsn, Australia - Aug 23, 2008
and closed on 6 September 2008. International competition jury, led by Wim Wenders, awarded Leone d'Oro to '' The Wrestler'', directed by

Darren Aronofsky Darren Aronofsky (born February 12, 1969) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. His films are noted for their surrealistic, melodramatic, and sometimes disturbing elements, often in the form of psychological fiction. Arono ...

.Venice festival line-up revealed - BBC News - Entertainment, 30 July 2008
/ref> Most of the films at the festival were world premieres."PREVIEW: Venice seeks to consolidate role as Oscars springboard" Europe News, By Peter Mayer, Aug 21, 2008
Featured in the 65th film festival was a restored version of Federico Fellini's 1952 comedy ''

The White Sheik ''The White Sheik'' ( it, Lo sceicco bianco) is a 1952 Italian romantic comedy film directed by Federico Fellini and starring Alberto Sordi, Leopoldo Trieste, Brunella Bovo and Giulietta Masina. Written by Fellini, Tullio Pinelli, Ennio Flaia ...

'' with forty minutes of newly discovered footage. Films screened out of competition included ''35 Rums'' by French director

Claire Denis Claire Denis (; born 21 April 1946) is a French film director and screenwriter. Her feature film ''Beau Travail'' (1999) has been called one of the greatest films of the 1990s, as well as of all time. Other acclaimed works include '' Trouble Ev ...

, Iranian film-maker

Abbas Kiarostami Abbas Kiarostami ( fa, عباس کیارستمی ; 22 June 1940 – 4 July 2016) was an Iranian film director, screenwriter, poet, photographer, and film producer. An active filmmaker from 1970, Kiarostami had been involved in the production of ...

's film, ''Shirin'' and an autobiographical documentary by Belgium-born director Agnès Varda. The record for the longest film at the festival went to Philippine director

Lav Diaz Lavrente Indico Anciro Diaz (born December 30, 1958) is a Filipino independent filmmaker and former film critic. Frequently known as one of the key members of the slow cinema movement, having made several of the longest narrative films on recor ...

's ''

Melancholia Melancholia or melancholy (from el, µέλαινα χολή ',Burton, Bk. I, p. 147 meaning black bile) is a concept found throughout ancient, medieval and premodern medicine in Europe that describes a condition characterized by markedly d ...

'', with a running time of approximately seven and a half hours, and which is included in the Orizzonti (Horizons) section. VeniceFilmFestival65

77-year-old Italian film director Ermanno Olmi received a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement."Director finds grace in the common man Critical Appreciation: Ermanno Olmi" Variety, By JAY WEISSBERG, Aug. 22, 2008
/ref> The festival was dedicated to the late Egyptian director

Youssef Chahine Youssef Chahine ( ar, يوسف شاهين, Yūsuf Shāhīn ; 25 January 1926 – 27 July 2008) was an Egyptian film director. He was active in the Egyptian film industry from 1950 until his death. He directed twelve films that were listed ...

, who was notable for his contributions to post-war Arab cinema. The festival's shorts competition began 1 September 2008 with

Natalie Portman Natalie Portman (born Natalie Hershlag, he, נטע-לי הרשלג, ) is an Israeli-born American actress. She has had a prolific film career since her teenage years and has starred in various blockbusters and independent films, receiving mu ...

's directorial debut, ''Eve''.

Kseniya Rappoport Kseniya Aleksandrovna Rappoport (russian: link=no, Ксе́ния Алекса́ндровна Раппопо́рт; born 25 March 1974) is a Russian actress. She graduated in 2000 from Saint Petersburg Academy of Theatrical Arts and was immedi ...

will also hosted the opening and closing ceremonies."Rappoport to host..."
Variety, 8-13-08

Juries

The international juries of the 65th Venice International Film Festival were composed as follows: Main Competition (''Venezia 65'') * Wim Wenders, German filmmaker, playwright, author and photographer (Jury President) *

Yuri Arabov Yuri Nikolaevich Arabov (russian: Юрий Николаевич Арабов) (born 25 October 1954) is a Russian screenwriter, writer, poet and educator. He is known for his long-lasting collaboration with Alexander Sokurov. He is an Honored Arti ...

, Russian screenwriter, writer, poet and educator *

Valeria Golino Valeria Golino (born 22 October 1965) is an Italian actress and film director. She is best known to English-language audiences for her roles in '' Rain Man'', ''Big Top Pee-wee'' and the two '' Hot Shots!'' films, particularly the olive-in-the-be ...

, Italian actress and director *

Douglas Gordon Douglas Gordon (born 20 September 1966) is a Scottish artist. He won the Turner Prize in 1996, the Premio 2000 at the 47th Venice Biennale in 1997 and the Hugo Boss Prize in 1998. He lives and works in Berlin, Germany. Work Much of Gordon's ...

, Scottish artist *

John Landis John David Landis (born August 3, 1950) is an American comedy and fantasy filmmaker and actor. He is best known for the comedy films that he has directed – such as ''The Kentucky Fried Movie'' (1977), ''National Lampoon's Animal House'' (1978 ...

, American director, screenwriter, actor and producer *

Lucrecia Martel Lucrecia Martel (born December 14, 1966) is an Argentine film director, screenwriter and producer whose feature films have frequented Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Toronto, and many other international film festivals. Film scholar Paul Julian Smith w ...

, Argentine director, screenwriter, and producer * Johnnie To, Hong Kong director and producer Horizons (''Orizzonti'') * Chantal Akerman, Belgian director, artist and professor of film (President) * Nicole Brenez, French historian, theoretician and professor of cinema *

Barbara Cupisti Barbara Cupisti is an Italian award-winning documentary director with a long career as film actress. As an actress, she is well known outside of her native country by horror fans, who will most likely recognize her from her films with director ...

, Italian documentary director and actress *

José Luis Guerín José Luis Guerín (born 1960) is a Spanish filmmaker and educator known for '' Train of Shadows'' (1997), ' (2001), and '' The Academy of Muses'' (2015). Style and influences As a young cinephile, Guerín attended many film screenings, made fil ...

, Spanish filmmaker and educator * Veiko Õunpuu, Estonian film director and screenwriter Opera Prima ("Luigi de Laurentiis" Award for a Debut Film) * Abdellatif Kechiche, Tunisian-French actor, director and screenwriter (President) *

Alice Braga Alice Braga Moraes (; born 15 April 1983) is a Brazilian actress and producer. She has appeared in several Brazilian films, starring as Angélica in the acclaimed '' City of God'' (2002), Karinna in ''Lower City'' (2005), and Dolores in '' Only ...

, Brazilian actress *

Gregory Jacobs Gregory Jacobs (born August 14, 1968) is an American film director, assistant director, producer, and screenwriter. He has frequently collaborated with several film directors, most notably Steven Soderbergh, as well as directing himself, having ...

, American director, producer and screenwriter * Donald Ranvaud, British producer and film journalist * Heidrun Schleef, Italian screenwriter and producer

Official selection

In competition

The competitive section of the official selection is an international competition of feature films in 35mm and digital HD format running for the Golden Lion. :Highlighted title indicates the Golden Lion winner.

Out of competition

New works by directors who have been honored in past festivals, as well as movies shown in the midnight time band.

Short film competition

The following films were selected for the Short film competition (Corto Cortissimo) section: :Highlighted title indicates Lion for Best Short Film winner.

Horizons

The following films were selected for the Horizons (Orizzonti) section: :Highlighted titles indicate the Horizons Awards for Best Film and Best Documentary respectively.

These Phantoms: Italian Cinema Rediscovered (1946-1975)

Retrospective screenings and restorations. Special monographic sessions dedicated to the "secret story of Italian cinema". This is the fifth part of the retrospective, initiated at the 61st edition of the festival.

Autonomous sections

Venice International Film Critics' Week

The following films were selected for the 23rd International Film Critics' Week: :Highlighted title indicates the Lion Of The Future winner.

Venice Days

The following films were selected for the 5th edition of Venice Days (Giornate Degli Autori) autonomous section:

Awards

Official selection

The following Official Awards were conferred at the 65th edition: In Competition (Venezia 65) * Golden Lion: '' The Wrestler'' by

* Silver Lion for Best Director: Aleksei German for ''Bumazhnyy soldat'' (Paper Soldier) * Special Jury Prize: '' Teza'' by

Haile Gerima Haile Gerima (born March 4, 1946) is an Ethiopian filmmaker who lives and works in the United States. He is a leading member of the L.A. Rebellion film movement, also known as the Los Angeles School of Black Filmmakers. His films have receiv ...

Volpi Cup for Best Actor The Volpi Cup for Best Actor ( it, Coppa Volpi per la migliore interpretazione maschile) is the principal award given to actors at the Venice Film Festival and is named in honor of Count Giuseppe Volpi di Misurata, the founder of the Venice Film ...

Silvio Orlando Silvio Orlando (born 30 June 1957) is an Italian actor. Orlando was born and raised in Naples, where he started acting in theatre in 1976. He made his film debut in 1988 with a supporting role in the comedy '' Kamikazen: Last Night in Milan'' ...

for ''

Giovanna's Father ''Giovanna's Father'' ( it, Il papà di Giovanna) is a 2008 Italian drama film directed by Pupi Avati. Plot In Bologna in the late 1930s, Michele Casali (Silvio Orlando) teaches design at the same institute where his daughter Giovanna (Alba ...

'' *

Volpi Cup for Best Actress The Volpi Cup for Best Actress is an award presented by the Venice Film Festival. It is given by the festival jury in honor of an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance from the films in the competition slate. It is named in honor o ...

: Dominique Blanc for '' The Other One'' * Marcello Mastroianni Award (for the best emerging actor or actress): Jennifer Lawrence for ''Burning Plain'' * Golden Osella for Best Cinematography: Alisher Khamidhodjaev and Maxim Drozdov for ''Bumazhnyy soldat'' * Golden Osella for Best Screenplay:

for '' Teza'' * Special Lion for Overall Work:

Werner Schroeter Werner Schroeter (7 April 1945 – 12 April 2010) was a German film director, screenwriter, and opera director known for his stylistic excess. Schroeter was cited by Rainer Werner Fassbinder as an influence both on his own work and on German cine ...

Horizons awards (Premi Orizzonti) * Best Film: ''

'' by

(Philippines) * Best Documentary: ''Below Sea Level'' by Gianfranco Rosi ** Special Mention: ''Un Lac'' by Philippe Grandrieux & ''Wo men'' (We) by Huang Wenhai Short Film awards (Corto Cortissimo Lion) * Lion for Best Short Film: ''Tierra y Pan'' by Carlos Armella ** Special Mention: ''Vacsora'' by Karchi Perlmann * U.I.P. Award for Best European Short: ''De onbaatzuchtigen'' by Koen Dejaegher

Autonomous sections

The following official and collateral awards were conferred to films of the autonomous sections: Venice International Film Critics' Week * Best Film: ''The Apprentice'' (''L'apprenti'') by Samuel Collardey * Lion of the Future : Luigi De Laurentiis Award For a Debut Film: ''Mid-August Lunch'' (''Pranzo di ferragosto'') by Gianni Di Gregorio * Isvema Award for a debut or second feature film: ''Mid-August Lunch'' by Gianni Di Gregorio * Doc/it Award – Special mention: ''The Apprentice'' by Samuel Collardey * "Altre Visioni" Award: ''Sell Out!'' by Yeo Joon Han * EIUC Human Rights Film Award: ''Kabuli Kid'' by Akram Barmak Venice Days (Giornate Degli Autori) * Label Europa Cinemas Award: '' Machan'' by

Uberto Pasolini Uberto Pasolini Dall'Onda (born 1 May 1957 in Rome, Italy) is an Italian film producer, director, and former investment banker known for producing the 1997 film ''The Full Monty'' and directing and producing the 2008 film '' Machan'' and the 201 ...

* Christopher D. Smithers Foundation Special Awards: ''Stella'' by Sylvie Verheyde * FEDIC Award: ''Machan'' by Uberto Pasolini * Lina Mangiacapre Award: ''Stella'' by Sylvie Verheyde

Other collateral awards

The following collateral awards were conferred to films of the official selection: *

FIPRESCI Award The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI, short for Fédération Internationale de la PRESse CInématographique) is an association of national organizations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the world fo ...

** Best Film (Main competition): ''Gabbla'' (Inland) by Tariq Teguia ** Best Film (Out of competition): ''Goodbye Solo'' by Ramin Bahrani * SIGNIS Award: ''The Hurt Locker'' by Kathryn Bigelow ** Special mention: ''Vegas: Based on a True Story'' by Amir Naderi & ''Teza'' by Haile Gerima * Francesco Pasinetti Award (SNGCI): ** Best Film: ''Mid-August Lunch'' by Gianni Di Gregorio *** Special Mention: ''Pa-ra-da'' by

Marco Pontecorvo Marco Pontecorvo (born November 8, 1966, Rome) is an Italian cinematographer and film director. Marco Pontecorvo was initially interested in black and white photography, but eventually became a filmmaker like his father Gillo. He debuted as di ...

(Out of competition) ** Best Actor:

for ''

'' ** Best Actress:

Isabella Ferrari Isabella Ferrari (born 31 March 1964), better known by her stage name of Isabella Fogliazza, is an Italian actress of television, theatre and the cinema. She is best known as the protagonist, ''Commissioner Giovanna Scalise'' in the police dram ...

for ''

Un giorno perfetto ''A Perfect Day'' ( it, Un giorno perfetto) is a 2008 Italian drama film directed by Ferzan Özpetek. It is based on a novel with the same name by Melania Mazzucco. It entered the competition at the 65th Venice International Film Festival. Plot ...

'' * Doc/it Award – Sicilia Film Commission: ''Below Sea Level'' by Gianfranco Rosi * Leoncino d'oro Agiscuola Award: ''Giovanna's Father'' by Pupi Avati * Queer Lion: '' One Day in a Life'' (''Un altro pianeta'') by Stefano Tummolini * UNICEF Award: ''Teza'' by Haile Gerima * Art Cinema Award: ''Dikoe Pole'' (Wild Field) by Mikheil Kalatozishvili (Out of competition) * La Navicella – Venezia Cinema Award: ''The Hurt Locker'' by Kathryn Bigelow * C.I.C.T. UNESCO Enrico Fulchignoni Award: ''

BirdWatchers Birdwatching, or birding, is the observing of birds, either as a recreational activity or as a form of citizen science. A birdwatcher may observe by using their naked eye, by using a visual enhancement device like binoculars or a telescope, by ...

'' (''La terra degli uomini rossi'') by Marco Bechis * Biografilm Lancia Award: ** Best Fiction Film: ''Rachel Getting Married'' by Jonathan Demme ** Best Documentary: ''Below Sea Level'' by Gianfranco Rosi (Horizons) * Nazareno Taddei Award: ''Giovanna's Father'' by Pupi Avati * Don Gnocchi Award: ''Pa-ra-da'' by Marco Pontecorvo (Out of competition) ** Special mention:

Ezio Greggio Ezio Greggio (; born 7 April 1954) is an Italian-born Albanian comedian, actor, writer and film director. In Italy he is mostly known for his long-lasting appearances in TV shows like '' Drive In'' and ''Striscia la notizia'', while abroad he ...

for ''Giovanna's Father'' * Future Film Festival Digital Award: ''

The Sky Crawlers is a Japanese novel series by Hiroshi Mori. First published by Chuōkōron-shinsha in June 2001 and spanning six books, it follows the journeys and tribulations of a group of young fighter pilots involved in dogfight warfare, and is set du ...

'' by Mamoru Oshii ** Special mention: ''Gake no ue no Ponyo'' (Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea) by Hayao Miyazaki * Brian Award: Khastegi by Bahman Motamedian (Horizons) * Lanterna Magica Award (Cgs): ''Pa-ra-da'' by Marco Pontecorvo (Out of competition) * CinemAvvenire, Best Film in Competition: ''Vegas: Based on a True Story'' by Amir Naderi * "The circle is not round. Cinema for peace and the richness of diversity" Award: ''Teza'' by Haile Gerima * Bastone Bianco Award (Filmcritica): ''

Achilles and the Tortoise Zeno's paradoxes are a set of philosophical problems generally thought to have been devised by Greek philosopher Zeno of Elea (c. 490–430 BC) to support Parmenides' doctrine that contrary to the evidence of one's senses, the belief in pluralit ...

'' (''Akires to kame'') by

Takeshi Kitano is a Japanese comedian, television presenter, actor, filmmaker, and author. While he is known primarily as a comedian and TV host in his native Japan, he is better known abroad for his work as a filmmaker and actor as well as TV host. With th ...

* Human Rights Film Network Award: ''The Hurt Locker'' by Kahryn Bigelow * Arca Cinemagiovani Award: ** Best Film: ''The Hurt Locker'' by Kathryn Bigelow ** Best Italian Film: ''Mid-August Lunch'' by Gianni Di Gregorio * Air For Film Fest Award: ''Pa-ra-da'' by Marco Pontecorvo * "Poveri ma belli" Award: ''Puccini e la fanciulla'' by Paolo Benvenuti (Out of competition) * Mimmo Rotella Foundation Award for a film which shows a firm connection with the arts: ''Gake no ue no Ponyo'' (Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea) by Hayao Miyazaki * Open Award 2008: ''The Butcher's Shop'' by Philip Haas

References

External links

*
Venice Film Festival 2008 Awards
on IMDb {{DEFAULTSORT:Venice International Film Festival

Ven Ven may refer to: Places * Ven, Heeze-Leende, a hamlet in the Netherlands * Ven (Sweden), an island * Ven, Tajikistan, a town * VEN or Venezuela Other uses * von Economo neurons, also called ''spindle neurons'' * '' Vên'', an EP by Eluveiti ...

65th 2008 film festivals 2008 festivals in Europe Film August 2008 events in Europe September 2008 events in Europe